ZnO·2.7Al₂O₃ nanocomposite with high optical transparency

Abstract

Here we report a transparent dual-phase ZnO⋅2.7Al 2 O 3 ceramic. The composite is pore-free and consists of thin nanosheets with a spinel phase and a hexagonal phase, while the two phases match closely in both lattice and refractive index.Such features result in excellent optical transmittance (maximum value >80% in the visible spectrum) at comparable phase volume. This work may provide a new thought for the rational structural design of optical nanocomposites.