Solid-state combinatorial screening of ARSi4N7:Eu2+ (A = Sr, Ba, Ca; R = Y, La, Lu) phosphors

A double-ternary combinatorial chemistry (combi-chem) library was visualized in terms of structure, PL intensity, and color chromaticity for a nitride phosphor system, ARSi4N7:Eu(2+) (A = Sr, Ca, Ba; R = Y, La, Lu), so as to obtain a quantitative structure and property relationship (QSPR) in a systematic manner. Most of the samples constituting the double-ternary combi-chem library turned out to have ARSi4N7 structures with a P63mc space group. However, several phases such as Ca2Si5N8 with a Cc space group, LaSi3N5 with a P212121 space group, R6Si11N20O with a P31c space group, etc., coexisted. Aside from the green luminescence from the well-known SrYSi4N7:Eu(2+) and BaYSi4N7:Eu(2+) phosphors, their solid solutions (Sr,Ba)Si4N7:Eu(2+) proved to possess better PL properties. In addition, novel phosphors with an acceptable green PL intensity and color chromaticity were discovered in the ALuSi4N7:Eu(2+) side of the double-ternary combi-chem library. The Ca-rich side did not constitute a single-phase ARSi4N7 structure with a P63mc space group, and therefore the red emission in the Ca-rich side proved to originate from well-known Ca2Si5N8:Eu(2+) phosphors, which resided in the sample as a minor phase.