The innovation engine for new materials

Adam Jaffe

Adam Jaffe

Major: 

Chemistry

University: 

Princeton

Mentor(s): 

Nathan George

Faculty Sponsor(s): 

Professor Ram Seshadri

Faculty Sponsor's Department(s): 

Materials

Project Title: 

TUNING AND ENHANCEMENT OF CaSc2O4:Ce3+ PHOSPHOR EMISSION PROPERTIES FOR SOLID-STATE WHITE LIGHTING

Project Description: 

Solid-state white lighting has the capability to reduce energy needs by replacing incandescent bulbs in a variety of settings. In addition to high efficiencies, phosphor-converted solid-state LED lighting also offers advantages over traditional lighting such as robustness and long lifetimes. Ca1-xCexSc2O4 (CaSc2O4:Ce3+) is a promising, recently-discovered phosphor for use in solid-state white lighting. This phosphor emits at a peak wavelength of about 520 nm (under a 446 nm excitation wavelength). In order to produce a “warmer” light that can more accurately reproduce the spectral distribution of sunlight, the emission properties of the phosphor must be tuned towards longer wavelengths (red-shifting) while maintaining a high efficiency. Our goals were to optimize the sintering temperature and the Ce3+ activator concentration, and also attempted red-shifting its emission by co-doping with Tb3+, Eu2+, and Mn2+. The phosphors were created using solid-state synthesis and then analyzed with fluorimetry and x-ray diffraction. A series of phosphors with varying amounts of Ce3+ (x) ranging from 0.25 to 1.5 mole percent (x=0.0025 to x=0.015) were prepared. When analyzed with fluorimetry, the peaks with the highest intensity were from samples with 0.5 mole-percent (x=0.005) Ce3+ concentration prepared at 1600?C. Certain co-dopants seem promising in terms of tuning the emission to longer wavelengths. Thus, CaSc2O4:Ce3+ synthesis conditions were optimized and possible directions for future research were explored, such as co-doping with Tb3+ and other rare earths. We hope to improve phosphors such as CaSc2O4:Ce3+ to reduce energy demands while improving lighting aesthetics.