Morphology and cathodoluminescence of Li-doped Gd[sub 2]O[sub 3]:Eu[sup 3+], a red phosphor operating at low voltages.

A red phosphor, Li-doped Gd[sub 2]O[sub 3]:Eu[sup 3+] with high cathodoluminescent brightness was developed. In contrast to Gd[sub 2]O[sub 3]:Eu[sup 3+] which showed an irregular shape of agglomerated fine particles (the mean particle size <0.5 μm), the morphology of Li doped Gd[sub 2]O[sub 3]:Eu[sup 3+] crystals was quite regular and pseudospherical (the mean particle size approx. 2 μm). In particular, the incorporation of Li[sup +] ions into Gd[sub 2]O[sub 3] lattice could induce a remarkable increase of cathodoluminescence efficiency at low voltages (500 V-1 kV). The highest emission intensity was observed with Gd[sub 1.84]Li[sub 0.08]Eu[sub 0.08]O[sub 3-δ], whose brightness at 500 V was increased by a factor of 1.8 in comparison with that of commercial Y[sub 2]O[sub 3]:Eu[sup 3+]. This phosphor may be an application to the field emission display operating at low voltages. © 2000 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]