Effect of process parameters on YAG:Ce phosphor properties obtained by co-precipitation method

Abstract In the present paper we have studied the influence of the process parameters and the possibility of adapting a urea based co-precipitation process by using different types of surfactants in order to improve the optical properties of YAG:Ce phosphors. Practically, the process is based on the concomitant precipitation of the metal cations with the formation of a gelatinous precipitate between the cation salts (Y, Al or Ce nitrate) and a precipitating agent (urea) in basic medium and in the presence of surfactants, followed by maturation, filtration, washing, drying steps for the formation of the precursor, completed with the final thermal treatment at 1000 °C. In order to find the optimal synthesis conditions, we compared the effect of the different parameters on the structural properties (using as characterization techniques FTIR spectrometry, TG-DSC and XRD), morphological (SEM) and optical (PL). The analysis of phosphors samples confirmed utility of the use of the PEG or CTAB surfactants and flux agents, the need of an optimum temperature of 1000 °C for the synthesis of (Y1-xCex)3A5O12, with x = 0.05.