Effects of Y2O3 and transition-metal nitrates on phase, microstructures and PL properties of N-containing Ce2Si2.5Al0.5O3.5N3.5 melilite

Abstract N-containing Ce2Si2.5Al0.5O3.5N3.5 (CeSiAlON) melilite was synthesized at 1550 and 1600 °C for 5 h from CeO2, Si, Al, and Al2O3 in nitrogen by using Y2O3 and transition-metal nitrates (Co(NO3)2∙6H2O and Ni(NO3)2∙6H2O) as additives. The effects of Y2O3 and transition-metal nitrates on the phase, microstructures, photoluminescence properties of CeSiAlON melilite were studied. The incorporation of Y2O3 can promote the reaction of raw materials at a low degree, and results in a unit cell shrinkage of CeSiAlON due to the smaller radius of Y atom than that of Ce atom. The transition-metal nitrates can accelerate the reaction clearly and facilitate the formation of CeSiAlON fibers. The photoluminescence (PL) properties of CeSiAlON melilite presents a board violet emission band because of the 5d-4f transitions of Ce3+, and the additives can enhance the PL emission intensities of specimen significantly.