Present status and prospect of multinary phosphor materials

Abstract

The rapid development of flat-panel displays and white light-emitting diodes has activated research on phosphors. Many phosphor materials have complicated chemical formulae, which often complicate their study. In this paper, the author explains the composition of multinary materials and their merits and demerits in comparison with simpler prototype materials. First we discuss the excitation mechanism of plasma-display phosphors by vacuum ultraviolet photons. Next, recent progress in the development of phosphors for white light-emitting diodes, particularly new nitridosilicates and oxynitridosilicates activated with rare-earth ions are reviewed, with an emphasis on the effects of crystal structures upon luminescence color and thermal quenching.