Ce3+ doped Al2O3-YAG binary and Al2O3-YAG-ZrO2 ternary eutectic ceramics solidified by micro-pulling down technique: Numerical analysis, Microstructure and optical characterization

Ce:Al 2 O 3 –YAG binary and Ce:Al 2 O 3 –YAG–ZrO 2 ternary eutectic ceramics were synthesized by the micro-pulling-down ( μ -PD) method to evaluate the influence of ZrO 2 addition on their microstructure, residual stress, and luminescent characteristics. Increasing Ce 3+ concentration resulted in progressively deeper surface coloration, consistent with its chromophoric behavior. The microstructural analysis of SEM revealed a typical “Chinese script” morphology in the binary eutectic, whereas the ternary system exhibited a colony-like architecture. X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of binary and ternary eutectic structures without secondary phases over the investigated Ce 3+ concentration range. The binary system exhibited lower residual stress compared with the ternary counterpart under identical processing conditions. Photoluminescence spectra demonstrated efficient visible emission in both systems, although concentration quenching was evident at higher Ce 3+ levels. A finite element simulation incorporating induction heating, convection, and radiation was conducted to model thermal transport and melt flow during μ -PD growth. The results indicated that the highest crucible temperature was located near the coil center, and that melt flow was primarily governed by Marangoni convection—more pronounced in the ternary system due to its reduced viscosity and enhanced thermocapillary forces.