Luminescent properties of a novel Al10O3N8:Eu2+ phosphor by a mechanochemical activation route

A novel Al10O3N8:Eu2+ phosphor was prepared successfully by a mechanochemical activation route. With the help of high-energy ball milling, the starting materials were mostly transformed into an amorphous phase, which significantly promotes the synthesis of Al10O3N8 phase at a relatively moderate reaction condition. Al10O3N8:Eu2+ phosphor showed a broad blue emission band under ultraviolet-light excitation and small thermal quenching. Additionally, it was found that Al10O3N8:Eu2+ phosphor showed a strong blue emission under 147 nm excitation and shorter decay time compared with BAM:Eu2+ phosphor, making it a potential phosphor used in plasma display panels. Si-N doping was performed to further increase the luminescence intensity of Al10O3N8:Eu2+ phosphor and the related mechanism was discussed. Prospectively, it was feasible to apply the synthesis approach to other hardly achieved materials.