Synthesis of nano-size BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ blue phosphor by a rapid exothermic reaction

Ultrafine particles of BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ (BAM) phosphor were synthesized by a solid-state combustion reaction in a powder bed of 0.9BaCO3+MgO+5Al2O3+0.05Eu2O3+k(KClO3+1.5C) composition. A large exothermic reaction of the mixture (KClO3+1.5C) leads to a self-sustaining combustion mode. Under optimized combustion conditions, the product consisted of BAM powder and KCl was obtained. BAM ultrafine particles resulting from the combustion process were easily obtained by simply washing the salt by-product with water. Combustion-processed BAM phosphor shows a homogeneous grain size of 100–500 nm, good dispersity, regular morphology, and improved luminescence properties.