[Uszui]

Hi there!

I would like to experiment with electronic display techniques but I have a chemistry problem. What do you think - what is the easiest way of home-making a (light-to-light) phosphor screen?
 - I'm thinking of a screen of flexible plastic; would be best if I could bend it after phosphoring but this is not a must;
 - Should react to the light of some commercially available LED (UV - or any better ideas? - this is NOT a CRT, I have NO electron ray!)
 - Should emit visible light (well, it's a display after all.)
 - Activated point should stay lit for 5-500 millisecs (anything in between acceptable).
 - Please tell me about the resolution of your solution; how small can I go with the light emitting point?
Hope it's not too many requirements...

Thanks in advance!

[billnotgatez]

Could you create a highly focused UV led source?

remember eye protection

[Uszui]

Don't worry, I am aware of UV threats on my eyes. The main part of my experiments would be optics, especially focusing the light on the screen. But I can't see the ultra violet rays and so the outcome of my tries, that's why I need the help from a chemist. So, do you have any proposals for preparing a phosphor screen in home-like circumstances?

Please don't tell me that I have registered in vain!  It wasn't easy... Your pass policy is quite unusual for a web forum.

[billnotgatez]

I will check around and see if someone will post here on this topic

sometimes no one is expert enough so they do not answer

i have not had time to google around, but i was thinking there might be a uv lazer that may work

[408]

buy activated zinc sulfide. (or strontium aluminate, or whatever...)

Mix with some sort of spray on lacquer(like paint, but clear)

Spray on whatever you want your screen to be.

If thin you can probably bend it, but thicker layers will probably flake and break.

Resolution depends on how much ZnS you get in the lacquer, while still allowing it be sprayable, number of coats, etc.  With good coverage below a mm resolution would be easy.

[jeffrey.struss]

http://www.instructables.com/id/Making-Ooglo-Luminescent-Silicone-Paint/


This is a good instructable on making phosphorescent paints and what not.

[Uszui]

billnotgatez, thank you for checking around.

Now I am trying to find a ZnS shop.

I am a bit concerned that the background will glow in the dark after being exposed to sunlight all day long.

I have read that silver-activated ZnS will fade relatively fast, so it is best for my purpose, right? Is there any way to tune how fast it dims? Can I somehow predict what amount of energy it needs for lighting up?

Also many thanks, jeffrey and 408. I will let you know if I have some results.

[408]

I bought ZnS from elemental scientific about 4 years ago.  It worked great.  Bright glow for a couple seconds, dim glow for minutes.

[zaphraud]

Isnt it possible to make ZnS/CdSe nanodots under normal bench-top conditions? Resolution there would be limited to the wavelength of the UV you lit it up with..