Abstract: Light emitting devices including a light source and a phosphor material including a complex fluoride phosphor activated with Mn4+ which may comprise at least one of (1) A2[MF6]:Mn4+, where A is selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, NH4, and combinations thereof; and where M is selected from Ge, Si, Sn, Ti, Zr, and combinations thereof; (2) E[MF6]:Mn4+, where E is selected from Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, and combinations thereof; and where M is selected from Ge, Si, Sn, Ti, Zr, and combinations thereof; (3) Ba0.65Zr0.35F2.70:Mn4+; or (4) A3[ZrF7]:Mn4+ where A is selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, NH4, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A photoluminescent material comprising a composition of halogen-substituted alkaline earth metal aluminate doped with at least one rare-earth element activator. The alkaline earth metal is selected from one or more of Sr, Ca, Mg and Ba. The halogens can be F, Cl, Br and I. The invention includes a method of manufacturing the photoluminescent material and use of the photoluminescent material in long after-glow products such as water based and/or solvent based paints and extruded from plastics, ceramic glazes and the like.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to rare-earth doped solid state solutions of alkaline earth fluorides having novel luminescence properties, and to a process for preparing them. The invention is useful as identifying markers on articles. Other uses include phosphors for plasma displays, optical frequency multipliers, optical amplifiers and the like.

Abstract: Nanometer-scaled up-converting fluoride phosphor particles and processes of making them are disclosed. In the process, an aqueous solution consisting of soluble salts of rare-earth metal ions at a molar ratio of (yttrium, lanthanum or gadolinium): ytterbium:(erbium, holmium, terbium or thulium)=(70-90):(0-29):(0.001-15) is mixed a rare-earth metal chelator and a soluble fluoride salt to form precipitates, which are then annealed at an elevated temperature to produce nanometer-scaled up-converting fluoride phosphor particles. The particle size is between 35 nm and 200 nm, and can be controlled by the amount of the metal chelator added to the solution. The nanometer-sized particle is applicable to many biological assays.

Abstract: A preparation method of a precursor of a rare earth activated alkaline earth metal fluorohalide stimulable phosphor is disclosed, comprising (A) adding an aqueous solution of an inorganic fluoride into a mother liquor containing a barium halide to form a reaction mixture containing a precipitate of a precursor of the stimulable phosphor, and (B) removing a solvent from the reaction mixture to obtain a concentrated reaction mixture, wherein the steps (A) and (B) are concurrently performed over periods of a and b, respectively, and meeting the following requirement: 0.25<a/b<0.95. A preparation method of the stimulable phosphor and a radiation image conversion panel using the stimulable phosphor are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are a scintillator and a scintillator plate fitted with the scintillator exhibiting high emission luminance even though a heat treatment temperature of CsI columnar crystals is high, and also capable of exhibiting high emission luminance since these crystals can be formed on each of various kinds of evaporation substrates. Also disclosed is a scintillator comprising columnar crystals formed via vapor deposition of cesium iodide and an additive comprising a thallium compound, wherein the thallium compound has a melting point of 400-700° C., and has a molecular weight of 206-300.

Abstract: A method for producing CsX:Eu stimulable phosphors and screens or panels provided with said phosphors as powder phosphors or vapor deposited needle-shaped phosphors suitable for use in image forming methods for recording and reproducing images of objects made by high energy radiation, wherein said CsX:Eu stimulable phosphors are essentially free from oxygen in their crystal structure, and wherein X represents a halide selected from the group consisting of Br, Cl and combinations thereof, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of mixing CsX with a compound or combinations of precursor compounds having as a composition CsxEuyX?x+?y, wherein the ratio of x to y exceeds a value of 0.25, wherein ??2 and wherein X? is a halide selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I and combinations thereof; heating said mixture at a temperature above 450° C.; cooling said mixture, and optionally annealing and recovering said CsX:Eu phosphor.

Abstract: In a method for producing CsX:Eu stimulable phosphors and screens or panels provided with said phosphors as powder phosphors or vapor deposited needle-shaped phosphors suitable for use in image forming methods for recording and reproducing images of objects made by high energy radiation, said CsX:Eu stimulable phosphors are essentially free from oxygen in their crystal structure, wherein X represents a halide selected from the group consisting of Br, Cl and combinations thereof; and wherein the method further comprises the steps of mixing CsX with a compound or combinations of compounds having as a composition CsxEuyX?x+?y, wherein the ratio of x to y exceeds a value of 0.25, wherein ??2 and wherein X? is a halide selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I and combinations thereof; heating said mixture at a temperature above 450° C.; cooling said mixture, and, optionally, annealing and recovering said CsX:Eu phosphor.

Abstract: A quantum-splitting fluoride-based phosphor comprises gadolinium, at least a first alkali metal, and a rare-earth metal activator. The phosphor is made in a solid-state method without using HF gas. The phosphor can be used alone or in conjunction with other phosphors in light sources and displays wherein it can be excited by VUV radiation, and increases the efficiency of these devices.

Abstract: A quantum-splitting phosphor has a formula of ADF5:Pr3+, wherein A is at least one alkaline-earth metal and D is at least one Group-IIIB metal. The phosphor is made in a solid-state method without using hazardous HF gas. The phosphor can be used alone or in conjunction with other phosphors in light sources and displays wherein it can be excited by VUV radiation, and increase the efficiency of these devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for preparing a rare earth-activated barium fluorohalide based phosphor, in which atmospheric states during calcining and during cooling can be optimally adjusted and a cooling rate can be selected in a wide range. In the preparing apparatus of the present invention, a mixture 18 of phosphor materials is calcined by a calcining furnace 10 to form a calcined product, and thereafter, the calcined product is cooled to thereby prepare a rare earth-activated barium fluorohalide based phosphor. A calcining region 12 in which the mixture of phosphor materials can be calcined is provided in the calcining furnace 10, and a portion of the calcining region 12 is connected, via a partition door 30 capable of being opened and closed, to a cooling region 28 in which the calcined product can be cooled, at an outer side of the calcining furnace 10.

Abstract: In a radiation image storage panel composed of a phosphor layer produced by vapor phase deposition, the phosphor layer is composed of an europium activated cesium halide stimulable phosphor and exhibits an ultraviolet light-excited emission spectrum satisfying the condition of: 0<S(400–420)<0.20 in which S(400–420) represents a ratio of an amount of a light emitted by a luminous component giving an emission peak in the region of 400 to 420 nm based on the total amount of emitted light.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a pellet type LiF element for a thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) and its preparation. More particularly, the disclosure concerns the pellet type LiF element for a thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) which includes 0.35˜0.12% by mole of Mg source; 0.08˜0.001% by mole of Cu source; 1.3˜0.5% by mole of Na source; and 1.3˜0.5% by mole of Si source as dopants. The pellet type LiF element according to the present invention shows excellent sensitivity and has the preferred glow curve with a simple and single main peak.

Abstract: Spherical particles of a rare earth activated barium fluoride halide phosphor precursor having the formula(I): Ba1-aMIIaFX:yMI,zLn  (I) [in which MII is Ca or Sr; MI is Li, Na, K, Rb or Cs; X is Cl, Br or I; Ln is a rare earth element; and a, y and z are numbers satisfying the conditions of 0≦a≦0.5, 0≦y≦0.05, and 0<z≦0.2] are favorably employable for preparing spherical rare earth activated barium fluoride halide phosphor particles.

Abstract: A CsX:Eu phosphor produced by heating a cesium halide with a Europium compound containing one or more halides selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I. Preferably the Europium compound is selected from the group consisting of EuX′2, and EuX′3 and EuX′, X′ being one or more halides selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I. The invention also includes novel phosphors having properties inherent to the manufacturing process as well as other phosphors containing a mixture of Br and Cl in the cesium halide, europium doped phosphor. A method for preparing a binderless phosphor screen using these phosphors and a method for recording and reproducing an X-ray image using such screens are also disclosed.

Abstract: A CsBr:Eu phosphor showing a narrow emission spectrum upon UV-excitation and panels including such a phosphor are disclosed. Also methods for preparing such a phosphor have been described.

Abstract: A process for producing inorganic fine grains in a definite form having a small grain size, the inorganic fine grains obtained by this process, a rare earth element-activated barium fluorohalide fluorescent substance made using the grains, and a radiation image conversion panel with a layer of the fluorescent substance. The process features adding, to a solution containing an inorganic compound, a solid matter substantially insoluble in the solution, promoting crystallization or precipitation in the solution to form crystal or precipitate, and separating out the resulting crystal or precipitate. The inorganic fine grains produced by this process are represented by the formula BaFI:xLn (Ln represents at least one of Ce, Pr, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Nd, Er, Tm and Yb, and 0<x≦0.2), have a cubic form and have a volume-average grain size of 1 to 10 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A preparation method of an oxygen-introduced rare earth activated alkaline earth metal fluorohalide stimulable phosphor is disclosed, comprising (a) preparing a reactant solution having a barium concentration of not less than 3.3 mol/l in a reaction vessel, (b) forming a precursor of the stimulable phosphor, and (c) removing a solvent from a mother liquor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a rare earth activated, alkaline earth metal fluorohalide photostimulable phosphor which is expressed by a basic composition formula (Ba1−aMIIa)F(Br1−bIb):zLn, the method comprising the steps of: calcining a precursor of the rare earth activated, alkaline earth metal fluorohalide photostimulable phosphor to obtain a calcined product; and annealing the calcined product so that the following annealing conditions are met: (1) Tmp−600° C.≦Ta≦Tmp−300° C., wherein Ta is the annealing temperature (° C.), and Tmp is the melting point (° C.) of a host crystal; and (2) 10−5≦N×ta≦1, wherein ta is the processing time (in minutes), and N is the number of oxygen moles/the number of phosphor moles.

Abstract: A method for preparing a rare earth activated alkaline earth metal fluorohalide stimulable phosphor represented by formula (Ba1−xM2x)FBryI1−y:aM1, bLn, cO is discloded, comprising the steps of (a) preparing an aqueous mother liquor containing BaX2 of not less than 2.0 mol/l and a halide of Ln, (b) adding an aqueous solution containing an inorganic fluoride of not less than 5 mol/l to the mother liquor while maintaining a temperature of at least 50° C. to form a crystalline precipitate of a precursor of the stimulable phosphor, (c) separating the precipitate of the precursor from the mother liquor, and (d) calcining the separated precipitate.

Abstract: A method of preparing barium fluoroiodide, an iodine-containing barium fluorohalide in which the barium fluoroiodide is used for at least one of materials thereof, and a radiation image conversion panel are provided. In the method of preparing barium fluoroiodide in a suspension preparing step, barium carbonate is added to and mixed with an aqueous solution of hydrogen iodide, such that a molar ratio of the hydrogen iodide to the barium carbonate is 0.5 to 2. A resultant solution is concentrated such that a concentration of barium iodide dissolved in the solution is at least 3.0 mol/l. Then, hydrogen fluoride is added and reacted to generate a precipitate, a rate of addition of the hydrogen fluoride being adjusted such that a molar ratio of the hydrogen fluoride to the barium carbonate added in the suspension preparing step is 0.4 to 0.8 and a theoretical amount of a precipitate of barium fluoroiodide produced during the addition of the hydrogen fluoride is 0.

Abstract: A method of preparing a rare earth activated, alkaline earth metal fluorohalide based phosphor comprising the steps of: (a) providing a phosphor material, which includes BaFBr particles, and a phosphor material, which includes BaFI particles, wherein the average particle diameter of the BaFI particles is no more than four times the average particle diameter of the BaFBr particles; (b) mixing the phosphor materials together to thereby obtain a mixture of the phosphor materials; and (c) calcining the mixture of phosphor materials.

Abstract: A rare earth fluoride phosphor favorably employable for the incorporation into a radiographic intensifying screen has the following formula (I) or (II): (Gd1−xLnx)F3·aMX  (I) LnF3·aMX:yA  (II) in which Ln is Y, La or Lu; M is Na, K, Cs or Rb; X is F, Cl, Br or I; A is Ce, Tb or Bi; and a, x and y numbers satisfying the conditions of 0<a≦0.03 and 0≦x≦0.1, 0<y≦0.1, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed are a rare earth element-activated, alkaline earth metal fluorohalide based stimulable phosphor capable of producing high-quality images having a very high sharpness and exhibiting high sensitivity and erasure characteristics when used in radiographic image recording and reproduction, a process for preparing the phosphor, an apparatus for the preparation thereof, and a radiographic image conversion panel using the phosphor. More specifically, disclosed are a rare earth element-activated, alkaline earth metal fluorohalide based stimulable phosphor which is represented by the basic compositional formula: Ba1−x MIIx FX: yMI, zLn [wherein MII represents an alkaline earth metal; MI represents an alkaline metal; Ln represents a rare earth element; and x, y, and z represent numerals within the respective ranges of 0≦x≦0.5, 0≦y≦0.05, and 0<z≦0.

Abstract: A method of preparing a barium fluorohalide phosphor including a mixing step in which phosphor materials are mixed, a firing step in which a resulting mixture of phosphor materials is fired, an annealing step, and a cooling step in which the mixture of phosphor materials is cooled to the ordinary temperature. In the firing step, after the mixture of phosphor materials has been fired at a constant temperature, an atmosphere at the time of the firing is removed while the constant temperature is maintained, and is replaced with an atmosphere different from the atmosphere at the time of the firing, and thereafter, annealing is carried out. In the cooling step, the atmosphere at the time of the firing is removed and replaced with a first different atmosphere, and then first cooling is carried out. Further, the first atmosphere is removed and replaced with a second atmosphere, and then second cooling is carried out.

Abstract: There is provided a method for preparing a highly accelerated-phosphorescent phosphor whose erasability and after-image characteristic are both improved. Phosphor materials are mixed together to obtain a mixture, and the mixture of phosphor materials is fired in a furnace having a firing region whose capacity is 2 to 500 L per kilogram of the mixture, at a temperature of 550 to 1000° C. while introducing 1 to 200 ml of oxygen in volume at room temperature per liter capacity of the firing region in the furnace, to thereby prepare a phosphor represented by the following compositional formula (I): (Ba1−a, MIIa)FX.bMI.cMIII.dA:xLn  (I) wherein, MIIa is alkaline earth metal such as Sr, Ca or Mg; MI is alkali metal such as Li, Na or K; MIII is Al, Ga or In; X is Cl, Br or I; Ln is rare earth element such as Ce, Eu or the like; A is a metallic oxide such as Al2O3; and a, b, c, d and x are numerical values within the ranges of 0≦a≦0.

Abstract: An elpasolite phosphor is provided corresponding to the general formula: A2−yB1+yMe3+X6:xD wherein: A=a monovalent ion B=a monovalent ion A is different from B Me3+=a trivalent ion D is a dopant X is at least one of F, Cl, Br and I 0≦y≦1 0≦x≦0.2 and wherein said phosphor has a specific gravity (sg)≧4. An elpasolite phosphor corresponding to the general formula above is especially useful in the production of prompt emitting X-ray screens and in the production of X-ray energy storage screens.

Abstract: A method for preparing a stimulable phosphor is disclosed, comprising forming a stimulable phosphor and coating the formed stimulable phosphor with a metal oxide and a silane coupling agent, or a metal oxide and a metal alkoxide. Another method is also disclosed, comprising forming a stimulable phosphor precursor, calcining the formed precursor in the presence of a metal oxide or metal alkoxide, and coating the calcined precursor with a silane coupling agent or metal alkoxide. Further disclosed is a preparation method of a radiation image conversion panel containing the stimulable phosphor.

Abstract: A preparation method of an oxygen-introduced stimulable phosphor including a rare earth activated alkaline earth metal fluorohalide stimulable phosphor is disclosed, comprising the steps of heating a precursor of a stimulable phosphor in an atmosphere containing oxygen, and further heating the heated precursor in a weakly reducing atmosphere. Stimulable phosphors prepared by this method and a radiation image conversion panel by use thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: A secondary sewage treatment system is provided with vertically-aligned foam collecting, turbulent, mixing, settling, and sludge collecting zones. A grating defines the boundary between the turbulent and mixing zones. Beneath the grating, a bouyant media, such as hollow plastic spheres, are contained and occupy substantially all of the mixing zone. Air diffusers including elongated draft tubes extend from the turbulent zone down through the mixing zone for introduction of air to aerate waste water liquor and to cause the aerated liquor to recirculate up into the turbulent zone, thereby creating a circulation of waste water liquor from the turbulent zone, down through the mixing zone and around the bouyant media, and up through the draft tubes to the turbulent zone.