Method of making a single crystal wavelength conversion element, single crystal wavelength conversion element, and light source containing same

A method for making a single-phase single crystal wavelength conversion element, the method comprising:

• obtaining a polycrystalline wavelength conversion element by:
• combining a precursor material with an organic binder material and a grain growth promoter to form a green state mixture;
• shaping the green state mixture to form a desired shape of the polycrystalline wavelength conversion element;
• heating the green state shape to remove the binder and form a pre-fired ceramic material;
• and
• sintering the pre-fired ceramic material to form the polycrystalline wavelength conversion element having the desired shape;
• attaching a seed crystal to a surface of the polycrystalline wavelength conversion element;
• and
• sintering the polycrystalline wavelength conversion element at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form the single-phase single crystal wavelength conversion element.

A method for making a single-phase single crystal wavelength conversion element, the method comprising:

• obtaining a polycrystalline wavelength conversion element by:
• combining a precursor material with an organic binder material to form a green state mixture;
• shaping the green state mixture to form a desired shape of the polycrystalline wavelength conversion element;
• heating the green state shape to remove the binder and form a pre-fired ceramic material;
• and
• sintering the pre-fired ceramic material to form the polycrystalline wavelength conversion element having the desired shape;
• attaching a seed crystal to a surface of the polycrystalline wavelength conversion element, wherein the seed crystal is attached by using a grain growth promoter when the polycrystalline wavelength conversion element does not contain the grain growth promoter;
• and
• sintering the polycrystalline wavelength conversion element at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form the single-phase single crystal wavelength conversion element.