The innovation engine for new materials

Jasmine R. Douglas

2013 PREM Intern

University: 

Jackson State University

Major: 

Chemistry/ Pre-Chemical Engineering

Mentor(s): 

Jakoah Brgoch

Faculty Sponsor(s): 

Ram Seshadri

Faculty Sponsor's Department(s): 

Materials

Project Title: 

OPTIMIZING CERIUM IN SODIUM YTTRIUM SILICATE POSPHORS FOR SOLID STATE WHITE LIGHTING

Project Description: 

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs), a semi-conductor light source, are advantageous because they have lower energy consumption, longer life spans, and are smaller than traditional light sources. However, because LEDs are a monochromatic light source they require the use of a phosphor to convert the light producing white light with excellent color quality. Substituting cerium in a series of sodium yttrium silicates, and , yields a pair of blue emitting phosphors when excited with a UV-LED. Using a microwave-assisted heating, we achieved high temperatures and a reducing environment necessary to react our starting materials. The products were characterized using power X-ray diffraction to determine the purity and optically characterized by fluorescence spectrometry. The excitation of was 360 nm and produced a blue emission, while the absorbed 330 nm producing a violet emission. The optimal concentrations for and were determined.