Abstract

The synthesis and structural characterization of a new precursor solid solution SrAl_{2 − x}B_xO₄ (0 < x < 0.2), for phosphor materials is reported. The synthesis temperature of SrAl₂O₄ is considerably reduced by B substitution. The new solid solution keeps the tridymite-like structure (P2₁) characteristic of SrAl₂O₄. Microstructural characterization, by means of SAED and HREM, did not evidence additional ordering due to B doping. However, damage under the electron beam gives rise to complex defects, suggesting that B substitutes Al at tetrahedral positions in isolated planes along the [011] direction.