Abstract
Yellow-emitting Ca-α-SiAlON:Eu x phosphor powders have been synthesized by the carbothermal-reduction-nitridation of a homogeneous Ca-Si-Al-Eu-C-O mixture at 1550 °C in flowing nitrogen. The resulting phosphor powder emits yellow luminescence with a peak wavelength at 575-590 nm under ultraviolet excitation at 370 nm. Compared with commercial Ce 3+ -doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG:Ce 3+ ) phosphor powder, the synthesized Ca-α-SiAlON:Eu x phosphor powder exhibits better thermal stability. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.