Thermal-shock-assisted solid-state process for the production of BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu phosphor

A new method, called the "thermal-shock method", was introduced for the production of high-quality BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu (BAM) phosphor powder. A conventional solid-state process assisted by a thermal shock at 950 °C results in a pure BAM phase with no impurities such as BaAl ₂O₄, MgAl₂O₄, or EuAlO₃. When both AlF₃ and H₃BO₃ are simultaneously used as the flux, this simple thermal-shock reaction yields the phosphor particles with highly improved morphology. Excellent emission intensity higher than that of commercial phosphor can be obtained after reduction at 1000 °C. Compared with other alternative liquid solution techniques, no use of any liquid medium that is harmful to the environment is one of advantages of the thermal-shock method for practical purposes. This synthetic process would be of great interest to the low-cost industrial production of high-performance BAM phosphor.