Synthesis of Ce-doped yttrium aluminum garnet phosphor by impinging streams co-precipitation

Phosphor yttrium aluminum garnet Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG), activated with trivalent cerium (Ce³⁺), was synthesized by T-tube impinging streams, T-type vortex impinging streams co-precipitation method (IS-CP) and direct co-precipitation method (D-CP), respectively. The crystallization, morphologies, particle size and particle size distribution of the phosphors obtained under different experimental conditions were studied. The influence of various factors on the luminescence intensity of the phosphor was also investigated, such as feeding methods, volume flow rate, contents of Ce and initial reactant concentration. The results show that the precursors synthesized by T-tube impinging streams co-precipitation reaction transform to Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG) phosphor at about 1 000 °C. The particles are far smaller and narrower than those prepared by D-CP. In the impinging streams co-precipitation system, the luminescent intensity of YAG:Ce phosphor increases with the increase of liquid flow rate. The intensity firstly increases then decreases with the increasing Ce³⁺ doping content, and the maximum intensity is shown at 1.67% (molar fraction) Ce. Luminescent intensity gradually decreases with the increase of initial concentration of reactants. At the same operational condition, the luminescent intensity of the phosphors prepared by T-tube impinging streams reactor is higher than that by D-CP, and the luminescent intensity of the phosphors prepared by T-type vortex impinging streams is higher than that by T-tube impinging streams reactor.