Optical property of SmAlO₃ applied as 1.06 μm laser absorbing material

SmAlO₃ powders were successfully synthesized through the citrate sol-gel combustion method. The phase evolution of the prepared powders were characterized using thermal gravimetric (TG) analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). X-ray diffraction (XRD) was applied to examine the purity of the powders. The reflective properties of SmAlO₃ with changing temperatures were investigated by ultraviolet-visible near-infrared spectrophotometer (UVPC) specular reflection spectrum. The results displayed that pure SmAlO₃ phase with preferable reflectivity at 1.06 μm could be obtained at 900 C for 2 h. Furthermore, the reflectivity of SmAlO₃ at various temperatures from -40 to 500 C transformed within ±0.1%, and all maintained below 1% at 1.06 μm. The absorbance of SmAlO₃ in the resin solution was 2.134 and the moral absorption coefficient was about 384.8 in the work. The study indicated that SmAlO₃ powders may be a promising kind of heat resistant absorbing material for 1.06 μm laser defense, which could be further applied to laser absorbing coatings with a wide range of temperatures.