Synthesis of pure AlON: Eu2+, Mg2+ phosphors by a mechanochemical activation route

Pure AlON: Eu2+, Mg2+ phosphors have been synthesized by a novel mechanochemical activation route. In the process of mechanical milling, the starting powder mixtures are mostly transformed into an amorphous phase with homogeneous elemental distribution at the atomic level, which significantly promotes the synthesis of AlON phase at a low reaction temperature. The firing temperature higher than 1500 °C would lead to the appearance of EuMgAl10O17 impurity phase. This is why pure AlON: Eu2+, Mg2+ phosphors could not be obtained by the traditional solid state reaction method, which requires higher firing temperature. The pure AlON: Eu2+, Mg2+ phosphors show comparable luminescence intensity, compared with that synthesized by the solid-state reaction method.