Abstract: A transparent yttrium aluminum garnet precursor composition is provided that includes a plurality of calcined particles of yttrium aluminum oxide having a mean particle domain size of between 10 and 200 nanometers and a predominant hexagonal crystal structure. High levels of YAG transparency are obtained for large YAG articles through control of the aluminum:yttrium atomic ratio to 1:06±0.001 and limiting impurity loadings to less than 100 ppm. The composition is calcined at a temperature between 700° Celsius and 900° Celsius to remove organic additives to yield a predominant metastable hexagonal phase yttrium aluminum oxide nanoparticulate having an atomic ratio of aluminum: yttrium of 1:0.6±0.001. With dispersion in an organic binder and a translucent YAG article is formed having a transmittance at a wavelength of 1064 nanometers of greater than 75%.

Abstract: A process for producing a trivalent metal ion compound is provided. The process combines a trivalent metal organo-oxide M-(OR1)3 with a dione under reaction conditions to yield a reaction product where R1 in each occurrence independently is a C1-C8 alkyl, C6-C12 cycloalkyl, or C6-C14 aryl; R2 in each occurrence independently is H, C1-C8 alkyl, C6-C12 cycloalkyl, or C6-C14 aryl; M is a trivalent main group or lanthanide metal ion of Al, Ga, In, Tl, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Zr, or Lu, and n is 3 with the proviso that when M is Zr n is 4. The reaction product has impurity levels of the order of tens of parts per million by weight when formed from reagent grade M-(OR1)3. The reaction product is isolated and freeze-dried without need for washing to preclude wash solution contamination.

Abstract: A process for producing a trivalent metal ion compound is provided. The process combines a trivalent metal organo-oxide M?OR1)3 with a dione under reaction conditions to yield a reaction product where R1 in each occurrence independently is a C1-C8 alkyl, C6-C12 cycloalkyl, or C6-C14 aryl; R2 in each occurrence independently is H, C1-C8 alkyl, C6-C12 cycloalkyl, or C6-C14 aryl; M is a trivalent main group or lanthanide metal ion of Al, Ga, In, Ti, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Zr, or Lu, and n is 3 with the proviso that when M is Zr n is 4. The reaction product has impurity levels of the order of tens of parts per million by weight when formed from reagent grade M?OR1)3. The reaction product is isolated and freeze-dried without need for washing to preclude wash solution contamination.