Process for producing nanoscale yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) fluorescent powders

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a process for synthesizing nano-scale yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) fluorescent powders having formula (I): (Y3−xR1x)(Al5−yR2y)O12   (I) wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from the elements consisting of rare earth metals and transition metals, and each of x and y is independently a value between 0 and 1.5, where the process comprises the steps: (a) forming an aqueous solution comprising rare earth metal ions, transition metal ions, yttrium ion and aluminum ion; (b) adding a precipitating agent to the aqueous solution of step (a) in an amount sufficient to allow the rare earth metal ions, transition metal ions, yttrium ion and aluminum ion comprised in the aqueous solution to substantially complex with the depositing agent; (c) drying the gel of step (b) to obtain a dried gel; (d) adding a dehydroxying compound to the dried gel of step (c) and subjecting it to a further drying step; and (e) sintering the product of step (d) at a temperature between 700 and 1400° C. to obtain the nano-scale yttrium aluminum garnet fluorescent powders of formula (I).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.