Abstract: Blue β-SiAlON:Eu2+ phosphor was synthesized from Si, SiO2, AlN and Eu2O3 powders by metallothermic reduction-nitridation reaction. The influences of firing temperatures on compositions of β-SiAlON:Eu and photoluminescence were investigated by X-ray diffractometer and fluorescent spectrophotometer, respectively. The results indicate that excitation spectra of β-SiAlON:Eu2+ consists of two broad bands centered at 290 nm and 325 nm, and emission spectrum exhibits a single intense broad emission band at ~ 485 nm with 75 nm of half-peak width, which corresponds to 5d-4f transition of Eu2+. The critical concentration of Eu2+ is 8%. The mechanism analysis suggests that the energy transfer between the Eu-Eu ions occurs and the critical distance is 1.44 nm; Eu2+ occupies the space of tubular channel along [001] direction in the β-SiAlON crystal.

Key words: β-SiAlON, thermal reduction process, energy transfer, photoluminescence