Synthesis and characterization of yttrium doped lithium Niobate powders

In this research, two types of LiNbO3 congruent composition, doped and substituted with different concentrations of Yttrium (Y) ranging from 0 to 5 mol % are prepared by the classical solid method. The structural properties and composition of the obtained powders are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and by the Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The main results of this work point out the fact that the ceramic powder processing method is a well adapt method for obtaining good quality LN: Y ceramics in the Yttrium concentration range analyzed for both kinds of LN:Y, as the LiNbO3 phase is lonely present in the ceramics at the end of the synthesized process. Lattice Parameter c increases with Y concentration whereas a parameter shows constancy for all powders. EDS results show that for substituted powders, Y content in the lattice cell increases monotonously, whereas for the doped ones, Y content increases up to 2.5% and remain constant above this concentration. A mechanism of Yttrium incorporation into the lattice of LN is proposed for the range of doping concentrations for both kinds of studied LN: Y.