SUMMARY
The synthesis of yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) (Y3 Al5O12) nanopowder was carried outby sol-gel method. Y(NO3)3.6H2O, Al(NO3)3.9H2O in the presence of citric acid as complexing agent were used as starting materials. YAG nanopowder was characterised by FTIR, TGA, andXRD. To get phase-pure nanocrystalline YAG powder at relatively lower temperature, calcinationat various temperatures was studied and calcination temperature was optimised. Particle size,estimated by XRD using Scherrer's equation, was found to be 28Œ35 nm which was further confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The particle morphology was studied by SEM.Defence Science Journal, 2008, 58(4), pp.545-549, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.58.1675