A review on inorganic phosphor materials for white LEDs

White LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are promising new- generation light sources which can replace conventional lamps due to their high reliability, low energy consumption and eco-friendly effects. This paper briefly reviews recent progress of oxy/nitride host phosphor and quantum dot materials with broad excitation band characteristics for phosphorconverted white LEDs. Among oxy/nitride host materials, M2Si5N8 : Eu2+, MAlSiN3 : Eu2+ M-SiON (M = Ca, Sr, Ba), alpha/beta-SiAlON : Eu2+ are excellent phosphors for white LED using blue-emitting chip. They have very broad excitation bands in the range of 440 similar to 460 nm and exhibit emission from green to red. In this paper, In this review we focus on recent developments in the crystal structure, luminescence and applications of the oxy/nitride phosphors for white LEDs. In addition, the application prospects and current trends of research and development of quantum dot phosphors are also discussed.