CaAlSiN3:Eu2+ phosphors bonding with bismuth borate glass for high power light excitation

•The CaAlSiN3:Eu2+ phosphor-in-glass was successfully prepared and deeply explored.•The phosphor-in-glass exhibited low thermal quenching and high mechanical strength.•A better wettability of glass on YAG:Ce3+ particles than CaAlSiN3:Eu2+ was observed.•B2O3–Bi2O3–Al2O3–ZnO glass was chosen as the binder to replace silicon resin.

The CaAlSiN3:Eu2+ red phosphor-in-glass was prepared using bismuth borate glass as the binder for high power light excitation. B2O3–Bi2O3–Al2O3–ZnO glass powder showed good sintering behavior with CaAlSiN3:Eu2+ phosphors at around 550 °C. The phosphor-in-glass has flat surface with a thickness of about 100 μm. From the images of FE-SEM and confocal laser scanning microscope, the uniform distribution of phosphor particles inside the phosphor-in-glass was vividly and clearly observed. And the luminescent property of phosphors was not greatly affected by glasses, as shown in fluorescence spectra. When the volume radio of CaAlSiN3:Eu2+ phosphors was 50%, the sample exhibited low thermal quenching and high flexural strength of 28.5 MPa. Compared YAG:Ce3+ phosphor-in-glass with CaAlSiN3:Eu2+ phosphor-in-glass, we found bismuth borate glass had better wettability on YAG:Ce3+ particles, which caused a higher flexural strength of the YAG:Ce3+ phosphor-in-glass.