YAG:Ce3+ Transparent Ceramic Phosphors Brighten the Next‐Generation Laser‐Driven Lighting

Abstract Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce 3+ (YAG:Ce 3+ ) transparent ceramic phosphors (TCPs) are regarded as the most promising luminescent converter for laser‐driven (LD) lighting. High‐quality YAG:Ce 3+ TCPs are still urgent for high efficiency LD lighting devices. YAG:Ce 3+ TCPs in a vacuum ambience by using nano‐sized raw materials are prepared. Controlling defects by adding nano‐sized MgO and SiO 2 simultaneously enables a high transmittance nearly 80%. After annealing in air furthermore, the luminous efficiency is enhanced greatly from 106 to 223 lm W −1 , which is the best result reported now for LD lighting. These results demonstrate that the optimizing YAG:Ce 3+ TCPs in a fitting strategy will brighten once again in the next‐generation LD lighting. Based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with a cathodoluminescence system, defects and Ce 3+ distributions in grains are identified directly for the first time.