Nanostructured yttrium aluminum garnet powders synthesized by co-precipitation method using tetraethylenepentamine

Tetraethylenepentamine (C8H23N5, TEPA) has been used as a novel precipitant to synthesize yttrium aluminum garnet (Y3Al5O12, YAG) precursor from a mixed solution of aluminum and yttrium nitrates via a normal-strike co-precipitation method without controlling the pH value during precipitation process. The original precursor was analyzed by thermogravimetry/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC). The evolution of phase composition and micro-structure of the as-synthesized YAG powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Compositionally pure YAG nanostructured powders were directly obtained by calcination of the precursor at 900 °C without the formation of any intermediate phases. The average particle size determined from TEM micrograph for the powder obtained at 1000 °C was approximately 50 nm.