Luminous performance of YAG:Ce powder synthesized via self-propagating synthesis process

White LED offers a useful technology for appropriate utilization of energy, relieving energy crisis and giving green lighting. In this paper, by using Y₂O₃, Al(NO₃)_3, Ce(NO₃)₃.6H₂O, EDTA, etc. as raw materials, nano-YAG:Ce powder was obtained by self-propagating synthesis method. Samples were checked by X-ray diffractometer and flexstation II spectrophotometer. The self-propagating synthesis method lowed the calcining temperature and single-phase YAG:Ce powder was obtained at 900degC. The highest emission intensity and excitation intensity of as-calcined YAG:Ce powder reached 800 Mcd. Luminescence intensity of YAG:Ce powder decreased with the increasing of Ce content. Putting the gel in the drying oven can effectively restrain the agglomeration between the particles and thus improved the luminescence property, although the resulting particles became large.