Synthesis, luminescence, and effect of heat treatment on the properties of Y3Al5O12:Ce phosphor

YAG:Ce nanosized spherical precursors were synthesized by coprecipitation using ammonium hydrogen carbonate as precipitant. Composition, phase transition, morphologies, and luminescence properties of the powders during calcination were studied. The precursors directly convert to pure YAG structure at about 900°C. The mean size of precursors is about 100 nm, and the grain size increases with increase of calcination temperature. When calcined above 1400°C, the grain size comes into a micrometer. With increase of calcination temperature, the luminescent intensity increases, and the emission band shows a redshift, while the lifetime increases.