Effects of Comminution on the Luminescence of Phosphors

Abstract

Luminescent properties of ball‐milled and phosphors have been measured. Particle size reduction, or the increase in the surface area, by comminution leads to a large luminescent loss of phosphors due to nonradiative recombination of the free carriers at the crystal surface. The milling condition adopted in this study does not have an appreciable effect on the surface or the bulk properties relevant to luminescence. The average width of the dead layer of the phosphors is estimated to be of the order of 0.1µ. The penetration range of the electron beams into the phosphor layers decreases with decreasing particle size. Particle‐size effects on the parameters that determine luminescence are discussed.