Low-Voltage Cathodoluminescent Properties of Blue-Emitting Yttrium Silicates Doped With Cerium

Abstract

AbstractYttrium silicate activated with Ce3+, (Y1−xCex)2SiO5, has been found to be an efficient phosphor that can potentially be used as the blue-emitting component in field emission flat panel displays. This highly refractory powder can be synthesized by combustion synthesis, a low cost technique used to fabricate multicomponent oxide powders in a single step process. The effect of activator concentration and post-synthesis annealing was examined on the fluorescent properties. The powders were found to be monoclinic space group P21/c in the as-synthesized state, and transformed to monoclinic space group C2/c after annealing. The maximum luminous emission intensity was reached after a one hour anneal at 1350°C for x=0.0075, with the peak Ce3+ emission wavelength between 420 and 450 nm. When co-doped with Gd3+, no increase in the emission intensity was observed.