Influence of polymeric additives on morphology and performance of Y2O3:Eu phosphor synthesized by flame-assisted spray pyrolysis

Fine powder of cubic Y2O3:Eu phosphor was synthesized and simultaneously deposited on fused silica slides by low-temperature flame-assisted spray pyrolysis in premixed propane/air flames. By adding ethylene glycol and citric acid to the precursor solution, morphology of phosphor particles could be improved. The intensity of the photoluminescence (PL)-emission of the phosphor screens deposited by the modified technique, when excited by ultraviolet (UV)-light with the wavelength of 254 nm, did not exceed that of the screens deposited without the polymeric additives. However, in vacuum UV, phosphors produced with the addition of polymers perform significantly better than the ordinary no-polymer FASP-coatings. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.