Micro-scale roughening of glass substrates using carbon nanotube-driven templates for enhancements in white luminescence characteristics

A novel way of roughening the surface of a glass substrate using a carbon nanotube-driven template is introduced to enhance the white luminescence characteristics of a printed Ba;Sr;Ca₂SiO₄:Eu² yellow silicate phosphor layer. The distribution of closed pores in the template layer induces selective etching and micro-scale roughening. As a result, a substantial improvement of ∼22.5% in the luminous efficacy was achieved when both sides of the substrate were roughened. This is attributed to the reductions of both the total internal reflection of rays at the glass–air interface and the specular reflection at the phosphor–glass interface.