Exploring Synthesis Techniques for Yttrium Based Phosphors

In recent years, the term ‘smart materials’ which means the potential of a material having novel functional abilities, has become a buzz word. Luminescent materials held a lion’s share amongst all functional materials. The research in these materials is nowadays becoming the frontline platform and has challenging options for the betterment of society. These materials have applications in diverse fields such as, radiation detection, monitoring and assessment, display devices (PDP, CRT, CTV, LCD, FPD, etc.), and Lighting devices (CFL, Hg Free lamps using VUV Xenon, Solid State lighting (SSL-LED blue chips, UV-LEDs, O-LEDs, etc.). The main and essential role is being played by the phosphors. The activity of the phosphor is also depending on the particle size and hence the nanophase phosphor developments are very important aspect of development of functional materials. It is also very much clear now that the method of synthesis controls/decides a particle size of the final product. A particular method is better for a specific phosphor for getting the desired particle size of the final product. Scaling is also very much essential for instituting the specific method of synthesis for desired phosphor. These aspects are important for commercial production.Looking at the applications specified in first paragraph, one thing is common which is red correction required for display devices or lighting devices. The red correction in full-colour display/white light emission is essentially done by using Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphor or Eu3+ doped yttrium based hosts. Red emission is of Eu3+ (5D0 →7Fj, where j could be predominantly 2, 1, 3) when symmetrically organized environment. In this context, the review of yttrium based phosphors is being presented. This also covers our experience in synthesis of yttrium based luminescent materials with different methods of synthesis and their comparative aspects with regard to luminescence properties.Contents of Paper