Elimination of residual carbon in carbothermal-synthesized SrAlSi4N7:Eu2+ phosphors via non-thermal plasma oxidation.

In this work, veritable carbothermal synthesis of SrAlSi 4 N 7 :Eu2+ red-emitting phosphors using entire oxides raw materials and the elimination of residual carbon survived in materials via non-thermal plasma oxidation route are demonstrated. The crystal structure and photoluminescent properties of carbothermal-synthesized SrAlSi 4 N 7 :Eu2+ phosphors and the residual carbon elimination effect of non-thermal plasma oxidation are investigated in detail. Experiment results show that the residual carbon survived in carbothermal-synthesized SrAlSi 4 N 7 :Eu2+ phosphors could be eliminated effectively by non-thermal plasma oxidation, leading to the significant enhancement of luminescent properties. The presented work affords an economic carbothermal reduction method to synthesize nitride phosphors using low cost entire oxides raw materials and recommends a promising approach to eliminate the residual carbon in carbothermal-synthesized materials. • SrAlSi 4 N 7 :Eu2+ phosphor was synthesized by carbothermal method using entire oxides raw materials. • Elimination of residual carbon was demonstrated by non-thermal plasma oxidation technology. • Luminescent property was enhanced owing to the removal of residual carbon after plasma treatment. • The elimination of residual carbon by oxygen-plasma was higher than that by air-plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]