Synthesis, Structure, and Photoluminescence Properties of Ce 3+ -Doped Ca 2 YZr 2 Al 3 O 12 : A Novel Garnet Phosphor for White LEDs

A novel garnet phosphor Ca 2 YZr 2 Al 3 O 12:Ce 3+ (CYZA:Ce 3+ ) has been successfully designed and synthesized via the solid state method. The crystal structure, morphology, as well as their photoluminescence properties were investigated in detail. Under near-ultraviolet (n-UV) excitation, CYZA:Ce 3+ exhibits cyan to green emission with the maxima from 484 to 503 nm when varying the Ce 3+ concentration. The internal quantum efficiency of the optimal sample is 56%. The concentration quenching of Ce 3+ emission occurs via the energy transfer among the nearest-neighbor ions. The thermal stability is superior compared with the Ba 2 SiO 4:Eu 2+ commercial phosphor. These results suggest that CYZA:Ce 3+ can be considered as a potential candidate for white LEDs.