Elevating photoluminescence properties of Y3MgAl3SiO12:Ce3+ transparent ceramics for high-power white lighting

Compared with Y3Al5O12:Ce3+, this Y3MgAl3SiO12:Ce3+ (YMASG:Ce3+) reveals great potential for high-power white lighting with red-shift spectrum. Herein, YMASG:Ce3+ transparent ceramics were explored to synthesize in the air following hot isostatic pressure (HIP) treatment to obtain tunable and optimized optical properties. Then phase purity, microstructure, transmittance, and photoluminescence of YMASG:Ce3+ ceramics were investigated. The emission peak of YMASG:Ce3+ transparent ceramic could be tuned from 573 to 592 nm with the variation of Ce3+ doping concentration. It should be noted that this YMASG:0.2 at%Ce3+ transparent ceramic with emission peak at 579 nm under 450 nm excitation exhibits the highest internal/external quantum efficiency (72%/65%). The white LED device using YMASG:0.2 at%Ce3+ transparent ceramic with a 0.4 mm thick demonstrates a luminous efficiency (LE) of 106 lm/W, correlated color temperature of 3158 K, and color coordinate (0.3933, 0.3265). Thermal stability can be significantly improved by the incorporation of Lu3+ in YMASG transparent ceramic, and this Y3–yLuyMgAl3SiO12:0.2at%Ce3+ (y=0–2.5) transparent ceramics were fabricated for the first time. Highest thermal stability (88%@150 °C of the integrated emission intensity at 25 °C) can be achieved when y=2.5. The maximum LE of 154 lm/W can be obtained from Y0.5Lu2.5MgAl3SiO12:0.2 at%Ce3+ transparent ceramic. These results indicate that YMASG:Ce3+ transparent ceramics with optimized properties can be regarded as an encouraging candidate for high-power white lighting.