A simple procedure for electroluminescent phosphor assessment

A simple assessment procedure is described which facilitates optimal selection of an electroluminescent phosphor based on the measurement of two optically deduced energies—absorption and emission. These two energies are used as input for an appraisal analysis based on a classical configuration-coordinate diagram model of the phosphor. A phosphor performance figure-of-merit is proposed as a consequence of the formulation of this assessment procedure. This procedure is then used to rationalize the relative performance of five electroluminescent phosphors (ZnS:Mn, BaAl₂S₄:Eu, SrS:Ce, SrGa₂S₄:Ce, CaGa₂S₄:Ce). Additionally, two cathodoluminescent phosphors (ZnS:Ag and ZnS:Cu) are appraised using this methodology, suggesting that this procedure may be of some utility in the evaluation of other types of phosphors.