Advantages of self‐propagating combustion reactions for synthesis of oxide phosphors

Abstract

Abstract— Combustion synthesis was explored as an alternate synthetic route to producing oxide phosphors with improved luminescent properties. The technique involves the highly exothermic reaction of metal nitrates (oxidizers) with an organic fuel ( e.g. , urea, carbohydrazide, glycine) at 500°C. We have synthesized Tb 3+ , Eu 3+ , Tm 3+ , and Cr 3+ ‐activated Y 3 Al 5 O 12 (YAG), Y 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ , and Y 2 SiO 5 :Ce 3+ phosphors. As‐reacted powders are well‐crystallized, luminescent, and have a small particle size. The effects of processing parameters such as type of fuel and fuel/oxidizer ratio on the spectral energy distribution were determined using photoluminescence measurements. Low‐voltage (100–1000 V) efficiency of combustion‐synthesized phosphors was compared with efficiencies obtained for phosphors prepared via hydrothermal synthesis and high‐temperature solid‐state reaction.