The Characteristics of YAG:Ce Phosphor Powder Prepared Using a NO3--Malonic Acid-NH4NO3-NH3·H2O System

Ce-doped $Y_3Al_5O_{12}$ (YAG:Ce) phosphor powder was prepared using a ${NO_3}^-$-malonic acid-$NH_4NO_3-NH_3{\cdot}H_2O$ system. The YAG:Ce precursor was ignited at $240^{\circ}C$ and the resulting powder contained YAG:Ce crystallites (42%) - active in the visible region at 460 nm - amorphous particles (53%) - inactive at visible wavelengths - and less than 3% oxide (3%) crystallite impurities. The impurities transformed to acitive YAG:Ce crystallites at above $800^{\circ}C$. At above $1000^{\circ}C$, the amorphous phase became YAG phase and isolated $Ce_2O$ crystallites emerged. The powder particles comprised < $4{\mu}m$ secondary aggregates of 20 nm primary particles. The thermal dusting of the secondary particles coincided with the aggregation of the secondary particles at above $900^{\circ}C$.