Effects of particle size of raw materials on phase formation and optical properties of Ce3+-doped Y3Al5O12 phosphors

Abstract The effects of the particle size of the Al2O3 raw material on the phase formation and optical properties of Ce3+-doped Y3Al5O12 (YAG:Ce3+) phosphors prepared by a solid-state reaction were investigated, along with the crystallinities, photoluminescent properties, and Ce3+ contents of the phosphors. Reducing both the Al2O3 particle size and distribution influenced the efficient formation of the YAG phase, with the final YAG phase content increasing from 48.4% to 83.5%. The amount of Ce3+ also increased with the formation of the YAG phase, and the external quantum efficiency was improved by a factor of ∼1.4. Considering both the particle size and the size distribution is important when selecting raw materials, which provides an effective way of optimizing phosphor performance.