Abstract
This paper presents the microstructure and electroluminescent performance of ZnS:Cu,Cl phosphor powders prepared by firing micrometer-sized ZnS with NaCl and CuS nanocrystallites at 900∘C in the reducing atmosphere. A series of samples with Cu addition ranging from 40 to 5000 ppm were studied. XRD analysis showed that ZnS:Cu,Cl samples with Cu addition of ≥400 ppm exhibited a transformation from hexagonal to cubic structure. The whole series of ZnS:Cu,Cl samples showed significant photoluminescent (PL) intensity; however, only samples with Cu addition of ≥400 ppm revealed measurable electroluminescent (EL) intensity. This difference was supposed to be a result of nano-sized CuxS precipitation in ZnS during firing treatment, where CuxS acted as electron emission source to enhance the EL intensity. Furthermore, ZnS:Cu,Cl powder sections were analyzed using X-ray mapping (XRM) of a scanning transmission electron microscope, revealing that CuxS precipitates of 50–80 nm in size were observed only in the samples with EL emission, i.e. Cu addition ≥400 ppm. The variation of EL intensity was interpreted in terms of the concentration of Cu activators as well as the phase and the amount of CuxS in ZnS.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
S. Shionoya, in Phosphor Handbook, edited by S. Shionoya and M. William (CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1999), p. 232.
T. Nakada, K. Furumi, and A. Kunioka, IEEE Trans. Electron. Devices, 46, 2093 (1999).
A. Fujji, H. Wada, K.I. Shibata, S. Nakayama, and M. Hasegawa, in Window and Dome Technologies and Materials VII, edited by R.W. Tustison (SPIE, Bellingham, 2001), p. 206.
D.S. McClure, J. Chem. Phys., 39, 2850 (1963).
R.E. Shrader, S. Larach, and P.N. Yocom, J. Appl. Phys., 42, 4529 (1971).
T.F. Mails and D. Steele, in Specimen Preparation for Transmission Electron Microscopy of Materials II, edited by R.M. Anderson (Materials Research Society, Pittsburgh, 1990), p. 3.
E.T. Allen and J.L. Crenshaw, Am. J. Sci., 34, 341 (1912).
B.D. Cullity and S.R. Stock, Elements of X-ray Diffraction (Prentice-Hall, New Jersey, 2001) p. 347.
B.L. Li, C.X. Guo, and Y.T. Wan, Acta Physica Sinica, 40, 490 (1991).
J. Nickerson, P. Goldberg, and D.H. Baird, J. Electrochem. Soc., 110, 1228 (1963).
M. Aven and J.A. Parodi, J. Phys. Chem. Solids, 13, 56 (1960).
A.G. Fischer, J. Electrochem. Soc., 109, 1043 (1962).
A.G. Fischer, J. Electrochem. Soc., 110, 733 (1963).
Y.Y. Chen, J.G. Duh, B.S. Chiou, and C.G. Peng, Thin Solid Films, 392, 50 (2001).
H. Kawai, S. kuboniwa, and T. Hoshina, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., 13, 1593 (1974).
D.C. Joy, Monte Carlo Modeling for Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis (Oxford University Press, New York, 1995).
M. Savelli and J. Boungnot, in Solar Energy Conversion: Solid-State Physics Aspects, edited by B. O. Seraphin (Springer, Berlin, 1979), p. 228.
M. Savelli and J. Boungnot, in Solar Energy Conversion: Solid-State Physics Aspects, edited by B. O. Seraphin (Springer, Berlin, 1979), p. 213.
M.T.S. Nair and P.K. Nair, Semicond. Sci. Technol., 4, 191 (1989).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nien, YT., Chen, IG., Hwang, CS. et al. Microstructure and electroluminescence of ZnS:Cu,Cl phosphor powders prepared by firing with CuS nanocrystallites. J Electroceram 17, 299–303 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10832-006-8913-5
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10832-006-8913-5