Purple-to-yellow tunable luminescence of Ce3+ doped yttrium–silicon–oxide–nitride phosphors

Phosphors of Ce3+ doped yttrium–silicon–oxide–nitride system (Ce–YSON) were synthesized by carbothermal reduction and nitridation. Their crystal structure changes gradually from pure oxide Y2Si2O7 to nitride YSi3N5 state with an increase in dosage of Si3N4 and carbon powder. Y2Si2O7:0.02Ce3+ has shown bluish purple emission, maximum at 408 nm with 340 nm excitation wavelength. YSi3N5:0.02Ce3+ has shown yellow emission, maximum at 552 nm wavelength with 374 nm excitation. The absorption of Ce–YSON increases and extends from 400 to 600 nm with nitrogen content increment. With 400 nm excitation wavelength, Ce–YSON has shown purple–blue–cyan–yellow tunable luminescence with increasing nitridation degree.