The influence of processing parameters on luminescent oxides produced by combustion synthesis

Rare-earth activated oxide phosphors have application in high energy photol uminescent (plasma panels) and cathodoluminescent (field emission devices) flat panel displays. These phosphors are composed of a highly insulating ho st lattice with fluorescence arising from the 3d --> 3d, 5d --> 4f or 4f -- > 4f transitions in transition metal or ran earth ions. Fabrication of comp lex host compositions Y2SiO5, Y3Al5O12, Y2O3, and BaMgAl10O27 along with co ntrolled amounts of the activators (Cr3+, Mn2+, Ce3+, Eu2+, Eu3+, Tb3+, Tm3 +) represent a challenge to the materials synthesis community. High purity, compositionally uniform, single phase, small and uniform particle size pow ders are required for high resolution and high luminous efficiency in the n ew flat panel display developments. This paper will review the synthesis te chniques and present physical and luminescent data on the resulting materia ls. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.