Mixed-metal oxides with the composition Y3ScxGa5-xO12(x = 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.25, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, and 3.0) have been prepared by an aqueous sol-gel method. The effects of scandium substitution on the garnet phase formation were studied by IR spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The XRD data indicate that single-phase Y3ScxGa5-xO12ceramic samples were obtained for x = 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.25, 2.3, and 2.4. The results also show that the formation of Y3ScxGa5-xO12garnets depends on the molar ratio of scandium and gallium in the investigated composition, and consequently on the mean cationic radius at the Al3+sites. The variation of lattice parameters for the Y3ScxGa5-xO12phases with different x is reported.
Philosophical Magazine Letters , 2005, 85 (11), 557-562.