(La, Ce, Tb)PO4 Phosphor Prepared by Co-Precipitation Method with Heat Treatment Process

(La,Ce,Tb)PO4 green-emitting phosphor was prepared by co-precipitation method and followed by heat treatment process. The particle morphology, crystal structure and photoluminescence properties of LAP phosphor during the heat treatment process were investigated by XRD, SEM, XRD and PL spectra techniques. The results show that the phosphor particles have serious conglutination and aggregation phenomenon with the calcinations temperature rising up. Therefore, the morphology of phosphor becomes irregular. The LAP phosphor with spherical-like shape and narrow grain size distribution was synthesized through improved heat treatment process including pre-burning process and adding dispersion agent. It is observed that the precursors calcined at 1200 C for 3 h transform into LAP phase completely. Moreover, the phase purity of LAP phosphor dose not change with improved heat treatment process Finally, the photoluminescence intensity of the LAP phosphor doped with the dispersion agent is 9% higher than the corresponding commercial phosphor.