Lanthanide-Doping Effects on the Formation of Leucite KAlSi₂O₆

In this study, the lanthanide-doping (Ce³⁺, Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺) effects on the formation of leucite (KAlSi₂O₆) by sol-gel synthesis were investigated. The phase purity and morphological properties of lanthanide-doped specimens have been estimated. The proposed sol-gel synthesis route is suitable for the preparation of mixed leucite-kalsilite ceramics doped with Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ (up to 10 M %). This simple and successful synthetic approach offers a feasible way to obtain lanthanide-doped potassium alumosilicate ceramics with possible application in odontology. The synthesis products were characterized using thermal analysis (TG/DTA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, the optical properties of lanthanide-doped synthesis products were also investigated. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]