MOSCOW, 28 Jun. Scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University have developed a new method for the production of phosphor ceramics, which is necessary for the production of diodes, lasers and other photonic devices. The new import-substituting technology, according to the creators, differs from analogues in high performance and the ability to accurately control the properties of the product. The results are published in the journal Materials.
Phosphors are substances that convert absorbed light, mechanical or thermal energy into light radiation. They are used in photonics to make fluorescent lamps, LEDs, radiation indicators and other devices.
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The methods used today for the synthesis of phosphor ceramics, according to experts, often lead to defects in the structure of the material. This is due to the low controllability of processes in the course of solid-phase reactions, as well as the use of auxiliary substances, the decomposition products of which remain in the ceramic, reducing its quality.
Specialists from the Engineering School of New Production Technologies of Tomsk Polytechnic University have proposed a unique method for the synthesis of phosphor ceramics. According to the authors, its differences from analogues are the ability to precisely control the properties of the product, high speed and productivity.
«»A feature of the method is the use of a high-energy electron beam, under the action of which sintering of powders of the initial oxides occurs. The development is primarily focused on the creation in Russia of an import-independent production of phosphors for LEDs, but in the future it will allow creating a wide range of materials for modern photonics,» she said. Elena Polisadova, professor at the Materials Science Department of the Tomsk Polytechnic University.
Using a new technology, scientists have created a method for the industrial production of yttrium-aluminum garnet doped with cerium ions, a key material for the production of white light diodes.
“Our technology for producing phosphor ceramics is the fastest of the existing ones, 10–20 grams of a substance is synthesized in one second. A mixture of powders is subjected to a powerful electron flow, which leads to radiolysis, that is, the breakdown of oxides into ions with subsequent combination,” Polisadova explained. .
During the study, scientists analyzed the influence of the parameters of the electron beam and the composition of the components on the final product. These data will become the basis for methods for the production of new types of ceramics necessary for the creation of photosensors, lasers, photovoltaic devices and other devices, the Tomsk Polytechnic University noted. Thanks to this, it is possible not only to synthesize ceramics of complex composition, but also to quickly find out the patterns of influence of various components on the properties of the final product,» said Elena Polisadova.
The study is supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant no. 23-73-00108. In the future, the research team intends to continue the development of universal technologies for the radiation synthesis of materials based on refractory compounds.
Tomsk Polytechnic University is a member of the Priority-2030 state university support program.