Photoluminescence properties of Ce3+ doped YSiO2N blue-emitting phosphors

Oxonitridosilicate phosphors with compositions of Y1−xCexSiO2N (x=0–0.1) were synthesized by a new synthetic route based on a solid state reaction among YSi, CeSi, SiO2 and Y2O3 compounds at high temperature and high pressure. The photoluminescence properties dependent on Ce concentration and temperature were investigated. Concentration quenching occurred when the doped Ce3+ concentration was more than 3 mol.%. The emission spectra showed red shifts from 430 to 447 nm with the increased Ce concentration from 0.5 mol.% to 10 mol.%. The quenching temperature was estimated as ∼380 K. The chromaticity coordinates of the excitation and emission spectra were stable against the temperature. This study showed these YSiO2N:Ce3+ phosphors the potential applications in the three-RGB phosphor-converted white LEDs.