Synthesis and photoluminescence of Eu, Mg-alon phosphors by carbothermal reduction

Eu2+–Mg2+ co-doped alon phosphors were successfully prepared by carbothermal reaction at 1600 °C for 2 h and their structure and photoluminescence properties were studied. The lattice parameter increased with increasing Eu concentration, indicating the incorporation of Eu into alon crystal lattice. The pure alon phase was obtained when Eu concentration is below 0.2%. Compared with solid state reaction process, this method lead to less amounts of secondary phase, larger amounts of Eu2+ against Eu3+, smaller particle size, narrower particle size distribution and stronger luminescence intensity. The absolute emission intensity of obtained phosphor reached 82% relative to that of famous BAM: Eu2+ phosphor. The emission could be tuned widely from blue to green by varying carbon content.