Synthesis of nanosized AlN:Eu~(2+) phosphors using a metal-organic precursor method

摘要

Nanosized Eu~(2+)-doped AlN phosphor was successfully synthesized by a metal-organic precursor method for the first time. Aluminum and europium chlorides were simultaneously reacted with triethylamine in acetonitrile media to yield solid precipitates, which were transformed into nanosized AlN:Eu~(2+) phosphor powders upon calcination in an ammonia gas atmosphere. The possible reaction mechanism was proposed, which is in good agreement with the experimental results. The direct formation of Al-N bonds through a coordination reaction in solution is a key factor in the formation of well-crystallized AlN:Eu~(2+) grains at a moderately low temperature (1200 ℃), which significantly suppresses abnormal grain growth and favors the formation of nanocrystalline (～15 nm) particles with a homogeneous particle size distribution. Due to the homogeneous distribution of a relative high amount of Eu incorporation (2 wt%), the nanophosphors were effectively excited by UV light and featured an intense green emission band with a peak at 506 nm.