Controlled Synthesis and Application of α-Al₂O₃ for Lu₃Al₅O₁₂: Ce³⁺ Green Spherical Phosphors

Abstract

α-Al₂O₃ powders with different morphologies, namely fibrous, sheet-like, and spherical, were prepared by the hydrothermal-thermolysis method. Subsequently, polycrystalline, transparent cerium doped lutetium aluminum garnet (Lu₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺) green phosphors were synthesized by high temperature solid-state method using commercial lutetium(III) oxide, cerium(III) oxide, and as-prepared Al₂O₃ powders with different morphologies. The phases, morphologies, and photoluminescent properties of the prepared phosphors were investigated by X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), and photoluminescence spectroscopy(PL). Moreover, the influences of the morphologies of α-Al₂O₃ on the types of crystal structure, morphologies, and photoluminescent properties of LuAG:Ce³⁺ green phosphors were investigated. The results indicated that the morphologies and particle sizes of the α-Al2O3 powders could be controlled by the additives and parameters. Notably, the spherical α-Al₂O₃ powders with good dispersibility were found to be the excellent base materials of LuAG:Ce³⁺ green phosphors for white light emitting diodes.

Keywords

alumina particles / hydrothermal-thermolysis / morphology control / cerium doped lutetium aluminum garnet phosphor