A potential blue-emitting phosphor, cerium activated yttrium silicate, (Y_(1-m)Ce_m)_2SiO_5, for field emission flat-panel displays was produced via a novel synthesis technique called combustion synthesis. Combustion synthesis involves a highly exothermic reaction between oxidizing metal nitrates and an organic fuel. The reaction temperature was found to be influenced by varying the fuel-to-oxidizer ratio to produce fuel-rich and fuel-lean reactions. In turn, the physical properties, such as crystallite size, pore volume, carbon contamination and surface area, and the luminescent characteristics were also found to be dependent on the fuel-to-oxidizer ratio. A sixty percent fuel-rich reaction was found to yield phosphor powders with the least carbon contamination, largest crystallite sizes and highest luminescent emission. This is also the first use of a fine size particle (SiO_2) solid suspended in the reaction solution which was found to be totally consumed to produce the silicate.
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