This STTR Phase I project is aimed at producing high-value phosphor powders for field emissive displays (FEDs) by spray pyrolysis. The next generation flat panel displays (FPDs) are called FEDs and create displays images of comparable quality to the cathode ray tubes (CRTs) found in television sets or desktop computer monitors. FEDs allow for ultra-thin, lightweight, lower power packages by eliminating the size, weight, and power consumption problems of CRTs. In order to successfully develop FEDs, it is necessary to make significant improvements in the properties of phosphor powders. Exist in solid-state synthetic routes to phosphor powders are limited in their ability to control these properties. Spray pyrolysis is a materials synthesis technique which under carefully controlled conditions can be used to form high-purity , controlled stoichiometry, chemically homogeneous powders with controlled particle size, particle size distribution and crystallinity that can be scaled to commercial manufacturing quantities. We believe thatthis technique will result in formation of phosphor powders with much ad of size distribution), better improved efficiency (through better control over particle size and spre controlled emission spectrum (through better control over chemical homogeneity and stoichiometry) and improved persistence (through control of crystallinity) as a result of the better control over powder properties that spray pyrolysis permits. The Phase I effort will prove the feasibility of spray pyrolysis as a method to produce phosphor powders by preparing three types of phosphors: Type 1, copper and silver doped metal sulfides; Type 2, rare earth doped yttria and Type 3, rare earth doped perovskites such as CaTiO3.
Keywords: Spray Pyrolysis Phosphor Powders Displays