Preparation and optical properties of SmBO₃ used as Laser protection material

SmBO₃ powders were synthesized by solid-state reaction method. The effects of calcination temperatures on preparation and the optical absorbency performances of SmBO₃ powders were discussed. The results showed that pure triclinic SmBO₃ phase was obtained at 800°C. The prepared powders were uniform with irregular morphologies and an original particle size of about 500-600 nm. However, at 1200°C, triclinic SmBO₃ phase changed into hexagonal structure, with an original particle size of about 1-2 μm. SmBO₃ powders of both crystal structures appeared strong absorption at 1.05-1.15 μm wavelength range, and the reflectivity of the powders reached a minimum at around 1.07 μm wavelength. The FTIR showed that there were apparently concentrated absorbent peaks of triclinic SmBO₃ between 500 and 1400 cm^-1. Moreover, absorbent peak of hexagonal SmBO₃ broadened at 944 cm^-1 (10.6μm), and the absorbing capacity apparently enhanced. SmBO₃ may be a kind of absorbent material for both the wavelength of 1.06 and 10.6 μm laser.