Synthesis of highly dispersed precursor nanopowders for YAG:Yb ceramics by the use of hexamethylenetetramine

The effect of hexamethylenetetramine on the morphology, dispersion composition and chemical homogeneity of the YAG:Yb ceramic nanopowders, obtained by the method of heterophase co-precipitation, followed by calcination (1100 °C) was studied. It was shown that the use of an aqueous hexamethylenetetramine solution allows obtaining YAG:Yb nanopowders with the particles size of 40-70 nm with a degree of agglomeration of 2.54, which is significantly less than that in comparison with the powders, obtained by precipitation in ammonia. (paper)