Role of Fluxes in Optimizing the Optical Properties of Sr0.95Si₂O₂N₂:0.05Eu2+ Green-Emitting Phosphor

Materials (Basel). 2013 Jul 15;6(7):2862-2872. doi: 10.3390/ma6072862.

Abstract

Chlorides of NH₄Cl and SrCl₂ and fluorides of AlF₃ and SrF₂ were added to raw materials acting as the flux for preparing the SrSi₂O₂N₂:Eu2+ phosphor. The effects of the fluxes on the phase formation, particle morphology, particle size, and photoluminescence properties were investigated. The results revealed that particle size, particle morphology and photoluminescence intensity were largely dominated by the type of the flux material and its adding amount. The chloride-based flux was found to favor the formation of the SrSi₂O₂N₂:Eu2+ phase. Among the chloride-based fluxes, the sample added with the SrCl₂ flux presented the narrow particle distribution and cleaner surface, with enhanced emission intensity and an increased external quantum efficiency by 68% and 22%, respectively, compared with those of the sample without any flux adding.

Keywords: flux; green emitting; oxynitride phosphor; photoluminescence properties.