One-Pot Synthesis of Submicrometer-Sized Ce:YAG Spherical Particles by Solvothermal Process Using Alcohol Solvents

A rapid synthesis method for preparing homogeneous and submicrometer-sized cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Ce:YAG) particles was proposed in this work. Instead of precipitating the YAG amorphous precursor prior to the solvothermal process, cerium, yttrium, and aluminum nitrates were dissolved in alcoholic solvents to form transparent and clear solutions that were directly transferred into the stainless autoclave to undergo the solvothermal reaction. Four different alcohol solvents, that is, ethanol, 2-propanol, 2-butanol, and tert-butanol, were used as the reaction medium. The crystallization mechanisms in correlation with the alcohol solvent properties, such as the supercritical point and the dielectric constant, were discussed. The interaction between the alcohol solvent and the precursor salts were also investigated. Well-dispersed and spherical Ce:YAG particles in size ranging from 200 to 350 nm were obtained in one pot via solvothermal reaction at 285°C from 5 to 8 h.