Toward Higher Color Purity and Narrower Emission Band beta-sialon:Eu2+ by Reducing the Oxygen Concentration

beta-sialon (Si6-zAlzOzN8-z):Eu2+ phosphors with the oxygen concentrations as low as less than 1 wt% were synthesized by using the pure Si metal as the Si source. The oxygen concentrations could be controlled in the range of 0.3-0.7 wt%, which corresponds to the z value of 0.06-0.13 by using the mixtures of the Si metal and alpha-Si3N4 powder. The photoluminescence of the samples showed the blue shifted emission spectrum and the narrower line width when the oxygen concentration was decreased. A wider color gamut can be achieved by using the beta-sialon with the low oxygen concentration. (C) 2011 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.017111esl] All rights reserved.