Co-precipitation Synthesis and Photoluminescence of YAG:Ce Phosphors

Abstract

Ce-doped YAG (Y3−x Al5O12:xCe, YAG:Ce) phosphor were prepared by co-precipitation method using ammonium hydrogen carbonate as a precipitant. The influence of precipitation condition such as pH on the powder properties and the optimum Ce content in YAG:Ce were investigated. Throughout the experiment, phase pure YAG:Ce powders with 50 ∼ 70 nm particle sizes were obtained. The luminescence intensity and particle size increased as calcination temperature increased in the range of 900 ∼ 1300°C. The maximum luminescent intensity was observed at 2 mol % of Ce concentration in the YAG:Ce phosphor. The luminescent intensity the YAG:Ce particles was significantly affected by the pH of the precipitation condition. Within the scope of this study (pH 5–8), the lower pH was favored for the higher emission intensity. The phosphors prepared had maximum excitation band at 467 nm and a maximum emission band at 525 ∼ 530 nm.