Integrated chemical process for exothermic wave synthesis of high luminance YAG:Ce phosphors

In this paper, high-luminance yellow-emitting Y(3)Al(5)O(12):Ce(3+) phosphor (YAG:Ce) microparticles were prepared in a solid flame using a 1.425Y(2)O(3)+2.5Al(2)O(3)+0.15CeO(2)+k(KClO(3)+urea)+mNH(4)F precursor mixture (here k is the number of moles of the KClO(3)+urea red-ox mixture, and m is the number of moles of NH(4)F). The self-sustaining combustion process for the entire reaction sample was provided by the heat generated from the KClO(3)+urea mixture. Parametric studies demonstrated that the maximum temperature in the combustion wave varied from 885 to 1200 degrees C for k=2.0-3.0 mole and m=0-1.5 mole. X-ray analysis results showed that the product obtained in the solid flame consisted of Y(3)Al(5)O(12):Ce(3+) and KCl phases. Therefore, after dissolving potassium chloride in distillated water, purephase YAG:Ce phosphor powder was obtained. The as-prepared YAG:Ce phosphor particles had diameters of 10-25 mu m and good dispersity and exhibited luminescence properties comparable to those of YAG:Ce phosphor powders prepared by conventional high-temperature processing. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.