Deep submicrometer YAG:Ce phosphor particles with high photoluminescent quantum yield prepared by flame spray synthesis

YAG:Ce materials have been extensively studied as phosphors for blue to white light conversion. In the last years, the preparation methods of YAG:Ce powders in the nanometric scale have received intensive attention due to their special optical properties. In this context, the preparation of luminescent particles with high quantum yield (QY) and particle size in the deep submicrometer range is the main focus of this work. Amorphous and hexagonal YAG:Ce nanoparticles (<20 nm) with the stoichiometric composition of YAG:Ce were synthesized by liquid-feed flame spray synthesis. The crystal phase, particle size, and specific surface area (SSA) evolution with the calcination temperature were investigated. A direct conversion from the amorphous/hexagonal phase to the cubic one was observed at T≥900°C, together with an increase in the particle size into the range 100-350 nm and a corresponding decrease in the SSA. Zeta potential of the particles in aqueous dispersions and their photoluminescent properties were characterized. The QY increased for the phosphor powders with lower Ce3+ concentration. The highest QY of 70%-72% was obtained for powders containing cerium doping of 0.1 mol% and spanning the size range between 130 and 270 nm.

Subjects

Ce

flame spray synthesis

photoluminescence

quantum yield

YAG

DDC Class

600: Technik

More Funding Information

MB and TG acknowledge the funding provided by the Swiss National Science Foundation through the project no. 5211.01095.100.01. VA and NN acknowledge the funding provided by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation through the project RFMEFI58715X0012. AP acknowledges the funding provided by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) through the grant 01GR0468. This work is a part of the 382-PiGnano project of ERA.Net RUS Plus 2013-2018 initiative under Consortium Agreement with ITMO University (Russia), Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Switzerland), and Hamburg
University of Technology (Germany).

Options

Deep submicrometer YAG:Ce phosphor particles with high photoluminescent quantum yield prepared by flame spray synthesis