Combinatorial search for advanced luminescence materials

Phosphors are key materials in fluorescent lighting, displays, x-ray scinti llation, etc. The rapid development of modern photonic technologies, e.g., mercury-free lamps, flat panel displays, CT-detector array, etc., demands t imely discovery of advanced phosphors. To this end, a combinatorial approac h has been developed and applied to accelerated experimental search of adva nced phosphors and scintillators. Phosphor libraries can be made in both th in film and powder form, using masking strategies and liquid dispensing sys tems, respectively. High-density libraries with 100 to 1000 discrete phosph or compositions on a 1"-square substrate can be made routinely. Both compos itions and synthesis temperatures can be screened in a high-throughput mode . In this article, details on the existing methods of combinatorial synthes is and screening of phosphors will be reported with examples. These methods are generic tools for application of combinatorial chemistry in the discov ery of other solid state materials. A few highly efficient phosphors discov ered with combinatorial methods have been reproduced in bulk form and their luminescent properties measured. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.