Combustion synthesis of blue and yellow-green β-Si3N4:Eu phosphor with preliminary mechanical treatment

Abstract

Phosphors based on europium-doped silicon nitride were produced using combustion synthesis with preliminary mechanical treatment of starting mixtures (silicon + europium oxide). Phase composition, electronic state, and luminescent properties of the samples were investigated. It was established that complete reduction of Eu³⁺ to Eu²⁺ occurred during synthesis, and the Eu³⁺ ion located on the surface of the particles did not affect the luminescent properties of the samples. The synthesized material, β-Si₃N₄:Eu, exhibited fluorescence in the blue (439 nm) and yellow-green (560 nm) regions of the visible light spectrum. With increasing Eu concentration, a shift of the phosphorescence spectra in the red region from 616 nm to 632 nm was observed.