Abstract: A light source comprises: (a) a source of plasma discharge that emits electromagnetic radiation, a portion of which has wavelengths shorter than about 200 nm; and (b) a phosphor composition that comprises particles, each of the particles comprising at least a first phosphor and at least a second phosphor, the phosphor composition is disposed such that the first phosphor absorbs substantially the portion of EM radiation having wavelengths shorter than about 200 nm, and the first phosphor emits EM radiation having wavelengths longer than about 200 nm.

Abstract: Novel red emitting phosphors for use in fluorescent lamps resulting in superior color rendering index values compared to conventional red phosphors. Also disclosed is a fluorescent lamp including a phosphor layer comprising blends of one or more of a blue phosphor, a blue-green phosphor, a green phosphor and a red a phosphor selected from the group consisting of SrY2O4:Eu3+, (Y,Gd)Al3B4O12:Eu3+, and [(Y1-x-y-mLay)Gdx]BO3:Eum wherein y<0.50 and m=0.001-0.3. The phosphor layer can optionally include an additional deep red phosphor and a yellow emitting phosphor. The resulting lamp will exhibit a white light having a color rendering index of 90 or higher with a correlated color temperature of from 2500 to 10000 Kelvin. The use of the disclosed red phosphors in phosphor blends of lamps results in high CRI light sources with increased stability and acceptable lumen maintenance over the course of the lamp life.

Abstract: An electron emitter includes a coating layer of a mixture of carbon nanotubes and alkaline-earth metal oxides on an electrically conducting structure. The preferred carbon nanotubes are those having a diameter less than about 200 nm. A substantial portion of electron emission is liberated from the carbon nanotubes, thus lessening the requirement on the alkaline-earth oxides. Such an electron emitter is advantageously used in gas discharge devices to increase the energy efficiency thereof.

Abstract: A method for determining past-service conditions and/or remaining useful life of a component of a combustion engine and/or a thermal barrier coating (“TBC”) of the component comprises providing a photoluminescent (“PL”) material in the TBC, directing an exciting radiation at the TBC, measuring the intensity of a characteristic peak in the emission spectrum of the PL material, and correlating the intensity of the characteristic peak or another quantity derived therefrom to an amount of a new phase that has been formed as a result of the exposure of the component to extreme temperatures. An apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a radiation source that provides the exciting radiation to the TBC, a radiation detector for detecting radiation emitted by the PL material, and means for relating a characteristic of the emission spectrum of the PL material to the amount of the new phase in the TBC, thereby inferring the past-service conditions or the remaining useful life of the component.

Abstract: A light source including a specific LED and phosphor combination capable of emitting white light for direct illumination. In one embodiment, the light source includes an LED chip emitting in the 460-470 nm range radiationally coupled to a phosphor comprising Ca8Mg(SiO4)4Cl2:Eu2+,Mn2+. In a second embodiment, the light source includes an LED chip emitting at about 430 nm and a phosphor comprising a blend of Sr4Al14O25:Eu2+ (SAE) and a second phosphor having the formula(Tb1-x-yAxREy)3DzO12, where A is a member selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Gd, and Sm; RE is a member selected from the group consisting of Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu; D is a member selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, and In; x is in the range from 0 to about 0.5, y is in the range from about 0 to about 0.2, and z is in the range from about 4 to about 5. Both embodiments produce light having the coordinates x=0.240-0.260 and y=0.340-0.360 on the CIE chromaticity diagram.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp including a phosphor layer including Sr4Al14O25:Eu2+ (SAE) and at least one of each of a red, green and blue emitting phosphor. The phosphor layer can optionally include an additional, deep red phosphor and a yellow emitting phosphor. The resulting lamp will exhibit a white light having a color rendering index of 90 or higher with a correlated color temperature of from 2500 to 10000 Kelvin. The use of SAE in phosphor blends of lamps results in high CRI light sources with increased stability and acceptable lumen maintenance over, the course of the lamp life.

Abstract: A light source comprises an organic light-emitting device, which emits radiation having a first spectrum, and a phosphor layer, which absorbs a portion of the light emitted by the organic light-emitting layer and which emits light having a second spectrum. The organic light-emitting device comprises an organic light-emitting layer disposed between a pair of electrodes, and at least a charge-blocking layer disposed between the organic light-emitting layer and one of the electrodes. The phosphor layer typically absorbs less than all of the light emitted by the organic light-emitting layer and typically covers the entire organic light-emitting device. The light emitted by the organic light-emitting layer is mixed with the light emitted by the phosphor layer to produce light having a third spectrum.

Abstract: The present invention provides phosphor blends that are excitable by electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths in the near Uv-to-blue range (from about 315 nm to about 480 nm) to emit a visible light in a range of wavelengths from about 490 nm to about 770 nm. A phosphor blend of the present invention comprises a mixture of at least two phosphors. The first phosphor of the mixture comprises Sr2P2O7:Eu2+,Mn2+; wherein at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ba, Zn, Ca, and Mg partially substitutes strontium. The second phosphor is at least one selected from the group consisting of Sr4Al14O25:Eu2+; (Ba, Sr, Ca)MgAl10O17:Eu2+; (Ba, Sr, Ca)MgAl10O17:Eu2+,Mn2+; (Sr, Ba, Ca, Mg)5(PO4)3Cl:Eu2+; and 3.5 MgO.0.5MgF2.GeO2:Mn4+.

Abstract: A light source comprises an organic light-emitting device, which emits radiation having a first spectrum, and a phosphor layer, which absorbs a portion of the light emitted by the organic light-emitting layer and which emits light having a second spectrum. The organic light-emitting device comprises an organic light-emitting layer disposed between a pair of electrodes, and at least a charge-blocking layer disposed between the organic light-emitting layer and one of the electrodes. The phosphor layer typically absorbs less than all of the light emitted by the organic light-emitting layer and typically covers the entire organic light-emitting device. The light emitted by the organic light-emitting layer is mixed with the light emitted by the phosphor layer to produce light having a third spectrum.

Abstract: Phosphors comprises oxides of at least an alkaline-earth metal selected from the group consisting of strontium, barium, calcium, and combinations thereof and at least a Group-IIIB metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gallium, indium, and combinations thereof activated with rare-earth metal ions comprising at least europium. The phosphors are characterized in that the ratio of positive ions and negative ions is off-stoichiometric. The phosphors are excitable efficiently in the near UV-to-blue light range. Blends containing at least one of these phosphors in conjunction with at least a light-emitting diode can provide light sources having a high luminosity and a high color-rendering index.

Abstract: A phosphor composition that comprises at least one phosphor emitting in each of the blue, green, and red regions of the visible spectrum is disposed adjacent to a backlight source of a color liquid crystal display. The phosphor composition emits strongly in the wavelength ranges of color filters used in such display. The backlight source includes either a semiconductor light-emitting diode or an organic light-emitting device.

Abstract: A method for determining past-service conditions and/or remaining useful life of a component of a combustion engine and/or a thermal barrier coating (“TBC”) of the component comprises providing a photoluminescent (“PL”) material in the TBC, directing an exciting radiation at the TBC, measuring the intensity of a characteristic peak in the emission spectrum of the PL material, and correlating the intensity of the characteristic peak or another quantity derived therefrom to an amount of a new phase that has been formed as a result of the exposure of the component to extreme temperatures.

Abstract: A light source including a specific LED and phosphor combination capable of emitting white light for direct illumination. In one embodiment, the light source includes an LED chip emitting in the 460-470 nm range radiationally coupled to a phosphor comprising Ca8Mg(SiO4)4Cl2:Eu2+,Mn2+. In a second embodiment, the light source includes an LED chip emitting at about 430 nm and a phosphor comprising a blend of Sr4Al14O25:Eu2+ (SAE) and a second phosphor having the formula(Tb1-x-yAxREy)3DzO12, where A is a member selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Gd, and Sm; RE is a member selected from the group consisting of Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu; D is a member selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, and In; x is in the range from 0 to about 0.5, y is in the range from about 0 to about 0.2, and z is in the range from about 4 to about 5. Both embodiments produce light having the coordinates x=0.240-0.260 and y=0.340-0.360 on the CIE chromaticity diagram.

Abstract: The present invention provides phosphor blends that are excitable by electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths in the near Uv-to-blue range (from about 315 nm to about 480 nm) to emit a visible light in a range of wavelengths from about 490 nm to about 770 nm. A phosphor blend of the present invention comprises a mixture of at least two phosphors. The first phosphor of the mixture comprises Sr2P2O7: Eu2+,Mn2+; wherein at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ba, Zn, Ca, and Mg partially substitutes strontium. The second phosphor is at least one selected from the group consisting of Sr4Al14O25:Eu2+; (Ba, Sr, Ca)MgAl10O17:Eu2+; (Ba, Sr, Ca)MgAl10O17:Eu2+,Mn2+; (Sr, Ba, Ca, Mg)5(PO4)3Cl:Eu2+; and 3.5 MgO·0.5 MgF2·GeO2:Mn4+.

Abstract: Europium-activated phosphors comprise oxides of at least a rare-earth metal selected from the group consisting of gadolinium, yttrium, lanthanum, and combinations thereof and at least a Group-IIIB metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gallium, indium, and combinations thereof. A method for making such phosphors comprises adding at least a halide of at least one of the selected Group-IIIB metals in a starting mixture. The method further comprises firing the starting mixture in an oxygen-containing atmosphere. The phosphors produced by such a method exhibit improved absorption in the UV wavelength range and improved quantum efficiency.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp including a phosphor layer comprising Sr4Al14O25:Eu2+ (SAE) and at least one of each of a red, green and blue emitting phosphor. The phosphor layer can optionally include an additional deep red phosphor and a yellow emitting phosphor. The resulting lamp will exhibit a white light having a color rendering index of 90 or higher with a correlated color temperature of from 2500 to 10000 Kelvin. The use of SAE in phosphor blends of lamps results in high CRI light sources with increased stability and acceptable lumen maintenance over the course of the lamp life.

Abstract: Novel red emitting phosphors for use in fluorescent lamps resulting in superior color rendering index values compared to conventional red phosphors. Also disclosed is a fluorescent lamp including a phosphor layer comprising blends of one or more of a blue phosphor, a blue-green phosphor, a green phosphor and a red a phosphor selected from the group consisting of SrY2O4:Eu3+, (Y,Gd)Al3B4O12:Eu3+, and [(Y1-x-y-mLay)Gdx]BO3:Eum wherein y<0.50 and m=0.001-0.3. The phosphor layer can optionally include an additional deep red phosphor and a yellow emitting phosphor. The resulting lamp will exhibit a white light having a color rendering index of 90 or higher with a correlated color temperature of from 2500 to 10000 Kelvin. The use of the disclosed red phosphors in phosphor blends of lamps results in high CRI light sources with increased stability and acceptable lumen maintenance over the course of the lamp life.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining past-service conditions and/or remaining useful life of a component of a combustion engine and/or a thermal barrier coating (“TBC”) of the component comprises a radiation source that provides the exciting radiation to the TBC to excite a photoluminescent (“PL”) material contained therein, a radiation detector for detecting radiation emitted by the PL material, and means for relating a characteristic of an emission spectrum of the PL material to the amount of a crystalline phase in the TBC, thereby inferring the past-service conditions or the remaining useful life of the component or the TBC.

Abstract: A phosphor composition that comprises at least one phosphor emitting in each of the blue, green, and red regions of the visible spectrum is disposed adjacent to a backlight source of a color liquid crystal display. The phosphor composition emits strongly in the wavelength ranges of color filters used in such display. The backlight source includes either a semiconductor light-emitting diode or an organic light-emitting device.

Abstract: Phosphor blends are disclosed that are capable of absorbing electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths in the range from about 315 nm to about 480 nm. These blends are mixtures of phosphors selected from the group consisting of Sr2P2O7:Eu2+, Mn2+, (Ca,Sr,Ba)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH):Eu2+,Mn2+, 3.5 MgO.0.5MgF2.GeO2:Mn4+, Sr4Al14O25:Eu2+, (Sr,Ba,Ca)5(PO4)3(Cl,OH):Eu2+, (Ba,Ca,Sr)2MgAl16O27:Eu2+, and (Ba,Ca,Sr)2MgAl16O27:Eu2+,Mn2+. White light sources are obtained by applying a phosphor blend over at least one LED that is capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation in the above-noted wavelength range.