Synthesis and Photoluminescence Properties of Sr[sub 2]Si[sub 5]N[sub 8]:Eu[sup 2+] Red Phosphor by a Gas-Reduction and Nitridation Method

Eu(2+)-activated Sr(2)Si(5)N(8) red phosphor for white light-emitting diodes was successfully synthesized by an innovative, simple and efficient synthetic process, direct gas-reduction and nitridation of the homogeneous oxide precursor of the SrO-SiO(2)-Eu(2)O(3) system in the flowing NH(3) and CH(4) mixture gas. The phase purity, morphology, and luminescence properties were investigated. The synthesized powders have a pure Sr(2)Si(5)N(8) phase and consist of fine, sub-micrometer-sized particles. Under the blue light excitation, Sr(2)Si(5)N(8):Eu(2+) phosphor shows excellent luminescence properties, such as high emission intensity, high quantum efficiency, and very low thermal quenching, which is comparable to those of phosphors fabricated by the solid-state reaction method. (C) 2008 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.2999278] All rights reserved.