A dispersion strategy for dispersant-free BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ (BAM) paste was investigated with functionalization of the ethyl cellulose (EC) binder. In order to enhance the affinity of EC for basic surface of BAM and the resulting steric repulsion at the solid-liquid interface, a portion of the hydroxyl groups in EC were substituted to the carboxylic acids via carboxylation of EC. From the analysis of adsorption isotherm, it was found that the carboxylated EC provided stronger affinity to the BAM surface than the conventional EC. Thus, the carboxylated EC generated higher steric stabilization at the solid-liquid interface, which led to a lower relative viscosity of the BAM paste in comparison to the conventional EC. Based on these results, it was determined that the dispersion stabilization of dispersant-free BAM paste was successfully improved through the functionalization of EC. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.