Effects of sintering temperature on Ce3+-doped Ca3Y2Si3O12 blue-emitting oxide phosphors

Abstract

Blue phosphors of Ca3Y2Si3O12:Ce 3+ have been synthesized by using a facile solid-state reaction method at various sintering temperatures from 1300 to 1600 • C in a reducing carbon atmosphere. The Ca3Y2Si3O12:Ce 3+ samples were crystallized into an orthorhombic phase, and the intensity of the main (230) peak depended on the sintering temperature. The particle size of the samples increased gradually with increasing sintering temperature. Field-emission scanning electron microscopic images confirmed that the particles acquired irregular shapes. Using a fluorescence spectrophotometer, we investigated the photoluminescent properties by excitation (348 nm) and emission (421 nm, 5d → 2 F 7/2 and 2 F 5/2 ) spectra. The intensity of the photoluminescence spectrum was the highest when the sample was sintered at 1600 • C. The calculated CIE coordinates were found to be (0.165, 0.127), which are located in the blue region.