Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of oxynitride phosphors M_0.98Si₂O₂N₂: Eu0.022+ (M=Ba, Sr, Ca) using the cellulose assisted liquid phase precursor process

Oxynitride phosphors M_0.98Si₂O₂N₂: Eu0.022+ (M=Ba, Sr, Ca) for white LEDs were synthesized at 1300, 1400, and 1500 °C by using the partially cellulose assisted liquid phase precursor (PLPP) process and compared with solid state reaction (SSR) process. MSi₂O₂N₂ (M=Ba, Sr, Ca) crystal structure was obtained from M_0.98Si₂O₂N₂: Eu0.022+ phosphor fired at 1400 °C using the PLPP process. However these phosphors were not synthesized through the SSR process at same temperature. M_0.98Si₂O₂N₂: Eu0.022+ (M=Ba, Sr, Ca) phosphors from PLPP produced a blue color emission at 487 nm (380 nm excitation), a green color emission at 528 nm (374 nm excitation), and a yellow color emission at 538 nm (371 nm excitation). M_0.98Si₂O₂N₂: Eu0.022+ phosphors from PLPP had higher luminescence and crystallinity compared with those obtained from the SSR process. The prepared phosphors were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM).