Abstract: Coating systems suitable for use in generating fluorescent visible light, and lamps provided with such coating systems. The coating systems includes a phosphor-containing coating that contains at least a first phosphor that is predominantly excited by ultraviolet radiation of a first wavelength to emit visible light and absorbs but is less efficiently excited by ultraviolet radiation of a second wavelength. The coating system further includes a second phosphor that absorbs the ultraviolet radiation of the second wavelength and little if any of the ultraviolet radiation of the first wavelength.

Abstract: Processes for producing particles of rare earth-containing phosphor materials, in which the particles have a core-shell structure and the shell has a lower rare earth content than the core. Such a process may include contacting a core particle with a precursor comprising Na(La,Ce,Tb)P2O7 to form a mixture, and then heating the mixture to a temperature sufficient to decompose the Na(La,Ce,Tb)P2O7 to evolve and melt an NaPO3 flux and initiate deposition of a (La,Ce,Tb)PO4 shell on each core particle in the presence of the molten NaPO3 flux.

Abstract: Phosphor-containing coating compositions and methods capable of changing the lumen maintenance characteristics of phosphor-containing coatings and fluorescent lamps that utilize such coatings. Lumen maintenance of a fluorescent lamp can be modified by forming a phosphor-containing coating to contain at least a first phosphor that depreciates during operation of the fluorescent lamp, and forming the phosphor-containing coating to further contain an additive composition in a sufficient amount and sufficiently uniformly distributed in the phosphor-containing coating to inhibit depreciation of the first phosphor during operation of the fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: A green emitting phosphor composition is disclosed. A phosphor composition of formula Ca1?xEuxAlB3O7, where 0<x<0.5 is formed from combining calcium carbonate, boron oxide, aluminum oxide, and europium oxide; and then firing the combination. A lighting apparatus including the phosphor composition is also provided. The phosphor composition may be combined with an additional phosphor to generate white light.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus having a phosphor material radiationally coupled to a light source is presented. The phosphor material includes a green emitting phosphor composition of general formula I: R3?x?zMxCezT5?yNyO12?x?yFx+y; where 0?x<3.0; 0?y<5.0, 0<z?0.30; and if x=0, then y>0 or if y=0, then x>0; R is Y, Tb, Gd, La, Lu or a combination thereof; T is Al, Sc, Ga, In or combinations thereof; M is Ca, Sr, Ba or a combination thereof; N is Mg, Zn or a combination thereof. The phosphor composition of formula I may be combined with an additional phosphor to generate white light.

Abstract: Phosphor particles, methods for their use to produce fluorescent lamps, and fluorescent lamps that make use of such particles. Such a phosphor particle has a core surrounded by a shell, and the shell contains GdMgB5O10 doped (activated) with at least terbium ions as a rare earth-containing phosphor composition that absorbs ultraviolet photons to emit green-spectrum light. The core is formed of a mineral material that is chemically compatible with the rare earth-containing phosphor composition of the shell, but does not contain intentional additions of terbium.

Abstract: Phosphor particles, methods for their use to produce fluorescent lamps, and fluorescent lamps that make use of such particles. Such a phosphor particle has a core surrounded by a shell, and the shell contains GdMgB5O10 doped (activated) with at least terbium ions as a rare earth-containing phosphor composition that absorbs ultraviolet photons to emit green-spectrum light. The core is formed of a mineral material that is chemically compatible with the rare earth-containing phosphor composition of the shell, but does not contain intentional additions of terbium.

Abstract: A process for preparing a color stable Mn4+ doped complex fluoride phosphor of formula I includes Ax(M(1?m),Mnm)Fy??(I) contacting a first aqueous HF solution comprising (1?m) parts of a compound of formula HxMFy, and a second aqueous HF solution comprising m*n parts of a compound of formula Ax[MnFy], with a third aqueous HF solution comprising (1?n) parts of the compound of formula Ax[MnFy] and a compound of formula AaX, to yield a precipitate comprising the color stable Mn4+ doped complex fluoride phosphor; wherein A is Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, NR4 or a combination thereof; M is Si, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr, Al, Ga, In, Sc, Hf, Y, La, Nb, Ta, Bi, Gd, or a combination thereof; R is H, lower alkyl, or a combination thereof; X is an anion; a is the absolute value of the charge of the X anion; x is the absolute value of the charge of the [MFy] ion; y is 5, 6 or 7; 0<m?0.05; 0.1?n?1.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp is provided including a phosphor blend comprising less than about 10% by weight rare earth phosphor, based on the total weight of the phosphor composition. This phosphor blend, when coated on a lamp, provides a lamp that exhibits high color rendering index (CRI), of at least 87, while simultaneously achieving low CCT, of less than about 4500K, i.e. of between about 3000K and 4500K. The phosphor system provided includes a non-rare earth strontium red broad band phosphor, a non-rare earth blue broad band halophosphor, and a rare earth-doped green-blue emitting phosphor, more specifically, a combination of SAR and blue-halo non-rare earth phosphors, and less than 20 wt % BAMn phosphor, based on the total weight of the phosphor system.

Abstract: Coating systems suitable for use in fluorescent lamps, particularly as scattering agents within a UV-reflecting coating for the purpose of improving fluorescent lamp luminosity. Such a coating system is provided on a transparent or translucent substrate and includes a phosphor coating and a scattering agent that scatters UV rays. The scattering agent includes an inorganic powder present in a separate UV-reflecting layer adjacent the phosphor coating and/or dispersed in the phosphor coating so that the scattered UV rays are absorbed by the phosphor coating and cause the phosphor coating to emit visible light. The inorganic powder exhibits low or no absorption to UV rays having wavelengths of 185 nm and 254 nm and is not reactive with mercury.

Abstract: Mercury vapor discharge fluorescent lamps are provided. The lamp can include a lamp envelope enclosing a discharge space and having an inner surface. First and second electrodes can be positioned on the lamp, such as on opposite ends of the lamp envelope. An ionizable medium that includes mercury and an inert gas can be within said lamp envelope. A phosphor layer can be on the inner surface of the lamp envelope. The phosphor layer generally includes a phosphor blend of a calcium halophosphor, a blue phosphor having an emission peak at about 440 nm to about 490 nm, a blue-green phosphor having an emission peak at about 475 nm to about 530 nm, and a red phosphor having an emission peak at about 600 nm to about 650 nm.

Abstract: A method for making coated zinc silicate phosphor, the method includes the steps of combining a zinc silicate with a rare earth compound under aqueous conditions and removing the water from a product of the combination to form a powder. The powder is fired to form a coated zinc silicate phosphor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are lamps comprising a radiation source and a phosphor blend configured for conversion of radiation, the phosphor blend including at least two different rare earth phosphors, wherein the phosphor blend comprises at least one multimodal rare earth phosphor. Disclosed advantages may include greater lumen output than an identical lamp in which the phosphor blend, at the same loading, does not comprise at least one multimodal rare earth phosphor.

Abstract: A method of forming a phosphor composition is disclosed. The method includes mixing co-precipitated yttrium-europium oxalate with an inorganic flux material to form an oxalate-flux mixture; and heating the oxalate-flux mixture at a temperature in a range from about 800° C. to about 1400° C., to form the phosphor composition. The phosphor has a general formula of (Y1-x-yAyEux)2O3 with 0<x<1 and 0?y<1, wherein A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of gadolinium, lutetium, lanthanum, scandium and terbium.

Abstract: A persistent phosphor of formula I is provided, along with methods for making and using the phosphor: AxAlyO4:Euj, REk, Bm, Znn, Coo, Scp ??I wherein: A is Ba, Sr, Ca, or a combination of these metals; x is greater than about 0.75 and less than about 1.3; y is greater than or equal to about 1.6 and less than or equal to 2; j is greater than about 0.0005 and less than about 0.1; k is greater than about 0.0005 and less than about 0.1; m is greater than or equal to 0 and less than about 0.30; n is greater than 0 and less than about 0.10; o is greater than 0 and less than about 0.01; p is greater than 0 and less than about 0.05; and RE is Dy, Nd, or a combination thereof. Applications for such phosphors include use in toys, emergency equipment, clothing, and instrument panels, among others.

Abstract: A low-pressure discharge lamp includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a light-transmissive envelope, a fill-gas composition capable of sustaining a discharge sealed inside the light-transmissive envelope, and a phosphor composition at least partially disposed on an interior surface of the light-transmissive envelope. The phosphor composition is disposed on an interior surface of the light-transmissive envelope in a plurality of layers that include at least a basecoat phosphor layer and a topcoat phosphor layer. The basecoat phosphor layer includes at least one halophosphor and the topcoat phosphor layer includes a blend of at least two rare earth phosphors. The basecoat phosphor layer has a greater Color Rendering Index (CRI) value than the topcoat phosphor layer.

Abstract: Mercury vapor discharge fluorescent lamps are provided. The lamp can include a lamp envelope enclosing a discharge space and having an inner surface. First and second electrodes can be positioned on the lamp, such as on opposite ends of the lamp envelope. An ionizable medium that includes mercury and an inert gas can be within said lamp envelope. A phosphor layer can be on the inner surface of the lamp envelope. The phosphor layer generally includes a phosphor blend of a calcium halophosphor, a blue phosphor having an emission peak at about 440 nm to about 490 nm, a blue-green phosphor having an emission peak at about 475 nm to about 530 nm, and a red phosphor having an emission peak at about 600 nm to about 650 nm.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp is provided including a five phosphor blend comprising four rare earth phosphors, including BAMn, and a non-rare earth white halophosphate phosphor. This phosphor blend provides a lamp that exhibits high color rendering index (CRI), of at least about 85, i.e. at least 87, while simultaneously achieving good lumen output, or lumens per watt (LPW), of at least about 70, i.e. at least 75, at all CCTs, and particularly at lower CCT of between about 3000K and 4100K. The phosphor system provided includes a rare earth-doped red emitting phosphor, a rare earth-doped blue emitting phosphor, a rare earth-doped green-blue emitting phosphor, a rare earth-doped green emitting phosphor and a non-rare earth white halophosphate phosphor.

Abstract: A low-pressure discharge lamp includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a light-transmissive envelope, a fill-gas composition capable of sustaining a discharge sealed inside the light-transmissive envelope, and a phosphor composition at least partially disposed on an interior surface of the light-transmissive envelope. The phosphor composition is disposed on an interior surface of the light-transmissive envelope in a plurality of layers that include at least a basecoat phosphor layer and a topcoat phosphor layer. The basecoat phosphor layer includes at least one halophosphor and the topcoat phosphor layer includes a blend of at least two rare earth phosphors. The basecoat phosphor layer has a greater Color Rendering Index (CRI) value than the topcoat phosphor layer.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp is provided including a phosphor blend comprising less than about 10% by weight rare earth phosphor, based on the total weight of the phosphor composition. This phosphor blend, when coated on a lamp, provides a lamp that exhibits high color rendering index (CRI), of at least 87, while simultaneously achieving low CCT, of less than about 4500K, i.e. of between about 3000K and 4500K. The phosphor system provided includes a non-rare earth strontium red broad band phosphor, a non-rare earth blue broad band halophosphor, and a rare earth-doped green-blue emitting phosphor, more specifically, a combination of SAR and blue-halo non-rare earth phosphors, and less than 20 wt % BAMn phosphor, based on the total weight of the phosphor system.