From Atoms to Ceramics: A Transmission Electron Microscopy Study on the Development of Transparent Materials

• Grant number: 22/14720-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2023
• End date: January 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Edson Roberto Leite
• Grantee: Tarcísio Micheli Perfecto
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Transparent yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) ceramics are used in a variety of high-tech products, including solid-state lasers, solid-state scintillators, and the Brazilian synchrotron light source Sirius. This study will look at how dopants and additives affect the sintering process, as well as the characteristics and transparency of YAG ceramics. With the use of cutting-edge transmission electron microscopy techniques, such as in-situ heating-stage experiments, the structure, grain boundaries, and interfaces of YAG will be examined in real-time at the atomic level.The work seeks to provide insight on the processes underpinning the impacts of additives on active sintering, liquid phase sintering, and mobility control close to grain boundaries. The study will also investigate the effects of various sintering settings on the pore elimination process and how these factors contribute to the production of superior, transparent YAG ceramics. By defining the role of additives and dopants, this project will solve significant scientific issues and improve YAG processing.The results are expected to advance our understanding of YAG synthesis and sintering, leading to improved material qualities and enhanced transparency. By significantly expanding to the scientific literature already available on YAG ceramics and applications, this work will ultimately assist Brazil's efforts to improve the manufacture of cutting-edge materials for Sirius and other high-performance applications using national technology. By focusing on fundamental scientific concerns and applying cutting-edge microscopy techniques, the project will, in general, enable the production of high-quality, transparent YAG ceramics with a wide range of uses.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PACIENCIA, FABIOLA C.; THEODORO, REINALDO DOS S.; SANTOS, GUSTAVO S. M.; PERFECTO, TARCISIO M.; VOLANTI, DIOGO P.. Micrometric Co₃O₄/ZIF-67 with high toluene detection capability. MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING, v. 192, p. 11-pg., 2025-03-11. (22/14720-4, 22/05381-1, 20/06421-1, 24/03388-4, 20/02471-4)

DE LOURENCO, CLAUDIA; DE ARAUJO, ANA B. S.; HASIMOTO, LEONARDO H.; FEITOSA, ISAQUE A. A.; DAS NEVES, MATHEUS F. F.; BETTINI, JEFFERSON; PERFECTO, TARCISIO M.; ROCHA, TULIO C. R.; MORI, THIAGO J. A.; LEITE, EDSON R.; et al. Size-dependent electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of arrays of edge-like defects in MoS₂ crystals patterned by focused ion beam. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A, v. N/A, p. 10-pg., 2024-11-11. (23/15689-6, 22/14720-4, 22/00955-0, 23/17576-4)