Synthesis and characterization of Sr2Si5N8:Eu2+ phosphor using strontium carboxylate

Divalent europium ion doped metal nitride phosphor, of Sr2Si5N8: Eu2+, was synthesized by using Sr carboxylates as a reducing agent and the preparation conditions were optimized. The obtained samples derived from Sr acetate doped with 4 at% Eu2+ to Sr content showed a strong emission at about 630 nm under the excitation at 449 nm. The emission intensity was about 136% of that of a commercially available YAG: Ce3+ (P46-Y3) standard phosphor, and the residual oxygen and carbon contents were 0.88 and 0.04%, respectively. All these values were better than those for the same composition of Sr2Si5N8:Eu2+ prepared by the conventional CRN method. The excellent quality and the suitable CIE chromaticity coordinates of (0.645, 0.355) suggest that this phosphor is one of possible candidates for the red color component of white LEDs.