A new precipitation based method for preparation of metasilicate phosphors

Metasilicates are important class of materials. They find applications in many diverse areas. Silicates are widely used as adsorbents, sensors, in production of ceramics, as bioactive materials, as microwave dielectric etc. A large number of phosphors based on metasilicate hosts are known. The conventional routes for synthesis of silicates are the solid state reaction and sol–gel. The synthesis temperature for metasilicates is usually in excess of 1100 °C. Here, we report for the first time the wet-chemical preparation of alkaline earth metasilicates. Though the as-prepared compounds were poorly crystallized, annealing at 700 °C was sufficient for the formation of well defined crystalline phases. Photoluminescence was also observed in these compounds after activating with suitable dopants.

• Wet chemical synthesis of metasilicates attempted.
• AESiO3 (AE = alkaline earth) could be successfully prepared by wet chemical process followed by thermal annealing at 700 °C for 1 h.
• Some phosphors based on these metasilicates could also be prepared.