YAG:Ce phosphor particles prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

Spray pyrolysis was applied to the preparation of fine YAG:Ce phosphor particles. The characteristics of particles such as crystallinity, morphology, and photoluminescence were investigated. Phase-pure YAG:Ce particles with high crystallinity were obtained after annealing at lower temperatures than those of conventional preparation processes. The mean size of the particles increased from 0.46 to 1.2 μm when the overall solution concentrations were changed from 0.03 to 1 mol/L. The YAG:Ce particles annealed at 1300°C were nonaggregated and spherical. The particles absorbed excitation energy in the range 403–510 nm, and the maximum excitation wavelength was near 470 nm. The YAG:Ce particles showed broad emission peaks in the range 480–650 nm and had maximum intensity at 528 nm. The photoluminescence intensity of the particles increased monotonically with increasing annealing temperature and showed the maximum value at 1 at% Ce.