Determination of recombination parameters of phosphors from cathodoluminescent characteristics

A simple method to determine recombination parameters of polycrystalline phosphor materials is proposed based on a comparison of a theoretical prediction of cathodoluminescent intensity with experimental characteristics. The obtained parameters are very sensitive to additional treatments of phosphor surface, especially to chemical modification by even small amounts of inorganic oxides. The proposed method offers a simple and rapid way of controlling recombination parameters of luminescent materials. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.