Synthesis and Photoluminescence Properties of β-sialon:Eu[sup 2+] (Si[sub 6−z]Al[sub z]O[sub z]N[sub 8−z]:Eu[sup 2+])

Divalent europium-activated β-sialon ( , ) phosphors with dopant concentration varying in the range of were synthesized by firing the powder mixture of , AlN, , and at for under a nitrogen-gas pressure of . The phase purity, microstructure, luminescence spectra, and thermal quenching of the fired phosphors were investigated. The samples with lower values showed higher phase purity, finer and more uniform particle size, and higher emission. Green luminescence of was achieved in β-sialons upon near-ultraviolet (NUV) or blue-light excitations. Furthermore, the phosphors had small thermal quenching, the emission intensity of which attained 84–87% of that measured at room temperature. The experimental data clearly indicates that has great potentials as a down-conversion green phosphor for white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) utilizing NUV or blue LEDs as the primary light source.