Charge-compensation effect of Al on luminescence properties of M2(Si, Al)5N8:Ce3+ (M=Ca, Sr, Ba)

Abstract The charge-compensated materials, M2AlxSi5−xN8:Ce3+ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba), were synthesized from appropriate mixtures of MSi, MAlSi, (MSiHy, MAlSiHy), Si3N4 and CeF3 by a direct nitriding process in a N2 gas and the luminescence properties were characterized. The resultant phosphors showed green emission suitable for LED illumination by optimizing the mixing ratio of metal elements. These phosphors were effectively excited by violet or blue light (400–430 nm) and the emission bands were observed at various wavelength regions for Ca: 489–528 nm, Sr: 511–520 nm, and Ba: 508–514 nm. Although the emission intensity of Ca2(Si, Al)5N8:Ce3+ was decreased with increasing amount of Al, those of Sr- and Ba-analogues were maximized at x = 0.5 of Al content in M2Si5−xAlxN8:Ce3+.