A novel preparation route of YAG:Ce via polymer gel precursor

This paper reports a novel route to synthesize nano particles of YAG:Ce³⁺ luminescent materials via polymer gel precursor. In an aqueous solution containing Y(NO₃)₃, Ce(NO ₃)₃ and Al(NO₃)₃. citric acid was added to improve the stability of the solution. Then, acrylamide and N,N-methylene-bis-acrylamide were added. The polymerization of mixture solution was initiated by adding (NH₄)₂S₂O₈. By heating the solution at 80°C for 3 h, a transparent gel was obtained. The gel was firstly transformed into active carbon by soaking it at 700°C in ultrahigh pure N₂ atmosphere. Carbon in as-received mixture was then removed when the atmosphere was changed from nitrogen to air at the same heating temperature. Well dispersive nano powders of single phase YAG:Ce³⁺ were thus obtained. XRD, SEM and BET were used to study the characteristics of as-prepared nano YAG:Ce³⁺ powders.