YAG compounds doped with Eu have been successfully synthesized by spray drying a solution of precursor nitrates. Aluminum and yttrium nitrates, europium oxide, ethylene glycol and citric acid were used as reagents. The resultant solution was fed to a spray dryer to obtain precursor powders, which were in turn heat treated at 800, 850 and 900oC and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Morphology of the synthesized powders was observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Results showed that the crystallization temperature of the powders is below 850oC without the presence of intermediate phases. The powders consist of spherical agglomerates constituted of primary particles of 40 nm diameter approximately.

Keywords: YAG, powder technology, spray-dryed, crystallization, ceramics.