A simple procedure for electroluminescent phosphor assessment

A simple assessment procedure is described which facilitates optimal selection of an electroluminescent phosphor based on the measurement of two optically deduced energies-absorption and emission. These two energies are used as input for an appraisal analysis based on a classical configuration-coordinate diagram model of the phosphor. A phosphor performance figure-of-merit is proposed as a consequence of the formulation of this assessment procedure. This procedure is then used to rationalize the relative performance of five electroluminescent phosphors (ZnS:Mn, BaAl2S4:Eu, SrS:Ce, SrGa2S4:Ce, CaGa2S4:Ce). Additionally, two cathodoluminescent phosphors (ZnS:Ag and ZnS:Cu) are appraised using this methodology, suggesting that this procedure may be of some utility in the evaluation of other types of phosphors.