Nanoscale phosphor particles with high quantum efficiency and method for synthesizing the same

A method of manufacturing nanoscale phosphor particles having an average particle size of less than about 200 nm and having an internal quantum efficiency of at least about 40%, the method comprising:

• passing a carrier fluid comprising phosphor precursors through a reactive field in a main chamber, thereby dissociating the phosphor precursors into elements;
• wherein the gas pressure inside the main chamber is in the range of about 5 kPa to about 100 kPa;
• wherein the power applied to the reactive field is in the range of about 10 kW to about 500 kW;
• wherein the temperature of the reactive field is greater than about 3000 K;
• and
• nucleating the elements to thereby precipitate nanoscale phosphor particles, wherein the nucleating step comprises supplying a quenching gas toward the freshly nucleated phosphor particles.