YAG : Ce phosphor particles prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

Spray pyrolysis was applied to the preparation of fine YAC:Ce phosphor part icles. The characteristics of particles such as crystallinity, morphology, and photoluminescence were investigated. Phase-pure YAC:Ce particles with h igh crystallinity were obtained after annealing at lower temperatures than those of conventional preparation processes. The mean size of the particles increased from 0.46 to 1.2 mu m when the overall solution concentrations w ere changed from 0.03 to 1 mol/L, The YAG:Ce particles annealed at 1300 deg rees C were nonaggregated and spherical. The particles absorbed excitation energy in the range 403-510 nm, and the maximum excitation wavelength was n ear 470 nm. The YAG:Ce particles showed broad emission peaks in the range 4 80-650 nm and had maximum intensity at 528 nm. The photoluminescence intens ity of the particles increased monotonically with increasing annealing temp erature and showed the maximum value at 1 at% Ce, (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.