Preparation of YAG:Ce3+ phosphor by sol-gel low temperature combustion method and its luminescent properties

YAG:Ce3+ phosphor was prepared by sol-gel low-temperature combustion method. The effects of the precursor properties and calcining temperature on the crystallization process, microscopic morphology and luminescent properties of phosphor were studied. The results indicate that the pure phase of YAG can be obtained at 800 °C by sol-gel low temperature combustion method, using citric acid as complexing agent. When the molar ratio of metal ion to citric acid is 2.0 and pH value is 2, the crystallinity increases and the phosphor particle size grows up gradually with the increase of the calcining temperature. The powders were characterized through thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscope analysis. The excitation spectra of YAG:Ce3+ phosphor take on a double peak structure, and the peak value of the main excitation spectra occurs at 460 nm and that of the emission spectra is near 530 nm. With the gradual increase of the calcining temperature, the peak position of excitation and emission spectra remains basically unchanged, but its relative intensity increases gradually.