Using silver nanoparticles for the increase of YAG: Ce luminescence

Abstract

In this study, silver nanoparticles with an average diameter of 50-70 nm were synthesized by the chemical reduction method. Subsequently, nanoparticles in different concentrations were introduced into the YAG: Ce luminescent powder synthesized by the method of two-stage coprecipitation into hexamine. The luminescence of samples with different contents of nanosilver was investigated. It was shown that the direct addition of nanosilver to YAG: Ce significantly impairs luminescence. Upon calcination at 900 °C, an increase in the luminescence of the YAG: Ce samples with silver nanoparticles was observed; however, the luminescence intensity was lower than that of the reference sample (without nanosilver). After calcination in an inert atmosphere at a temperature of 1550 °C, a significant increase in the luminescence intensity (of the order of 30-40 %) of the samples with the addition of a nanosilver was observed in comparison with the reference sample. Thus, silver nanoparticles can be successfully used to improve the YAG: Ce phosphors.