Abstract: A method of producing ?-SiAlON includes a sintering process, in which ?-SiAlON starting materials, a mixture of silicon nitride, aluminum nitride, optically active element compound, and at least one compound selected from aluminum oxide and silicon oxide, are sintered at temperatures ranging from 1820° C. to 2200° C. The method provides new ?-SiAlON low in carbon content and having high luminescence intensity by placing a plurality of boron nitride vessels in a graphite box to allow the ?-SiAlON starting materials packed in the plurality of boron nitride vessels to easily come in contact with nitrogen gas, and performing sintering in nitrogen atmosphere.

Abstract: Phosphor that can provide white LED that uses a blue LED or an ultraviolet LED as a light source and that has superior luminous efficiency. This phosphor includes, as a main component, ?-type sialon represented by a general expression: (M1)x(M2)y(Si,Al)12(O,N)16 (where M1 is one or more types of elements selected from a group consisting of Li, Mg, Ca, Y, and lanthanide element (except for La and Ce) and M2 is one or more types of elements selected from a group consisting of Ce, Pr, Eu, Tb, Yb, and Er, and 0.3?X+Y?1.5 and 0<y?0.7 are established and the sialon phosphor consists of a powder having a specific surface area of 0.2 to 0.5 m2/g.

Abstract: ?-sialon phosphor that is ?-sialon represented by a general expression: (M)x(Eu)y(Si, Al)12(O, N)16 (where M is one or more types of elements selected from a group consisting of Li, Mg, Ca, and Y as well as lanthanide element (except for La and Ce) and including at least Ca), the ?-sialon phosphor being structured so that an oxygen content is 1.2 mass % or less and primary particles constituting the ?-sialon have a columnar shape. When the ?-sialon phosphor receives ultraviolet rays or visible light having a wavelength from 250 to 500 nm as an excitation source, the ?-sialon phosphor shows a fluorescent characteristic having a peak in a wavelength region from 595 to 630 nm.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a phosphor which can be combined with a blue LED to emit white light having a low color temperature as in the case where the phosphor is used singly, has a broad fluorescence spectrum, high light emission efficiency, and thermal/chemical stability, and rarely undergoes the deterioration in brightness at higher temperatures. This phosphor is represented by the general formula: Mx(Si,Al)2(N,O)3±y (wherein M independently represent Li or at least one alkali earth metal element; and x and y fulfill the requirement represented by the formulae: 0.52?x?0.9 and 0?y?0.3) wherein some of M are substituted by element Ce, and wherein the Si/Al atomic ratio is 1.5 to 6 inclusive, the O/N atomic ratio is 0 to 0.1 inclusive, 5-50 mol % of M's is Li, and 0.5-10 mol % of M is Ce.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a process for producing a ?-SiAlON having higher fluorescence intensity. The present invention relates to a process for producing a ?-SiAlON, which comprises a mixing step of mixing a raw material powder containing silicon, aluminum and europium, a burning step of burning the mixed raw material under the atmosphere of an inert gas or a non-oxidizing gas to produce a ?-SiAlON represented by the following general formula: Si6-zAlzOzN8-z:Eu (0<z<4.2), an annealing step of annealing the resulting ?-SiAlON, and a step of treating the annealed ?-SiAlON with an acid. The annealing is carried out under a reductive atmosphere at an atmospheric pressure of 100 kPa to 10 MPa inclusive at an atmospheric temperature of 1200 to 1600 DEG C. inclusive for a treatment period of 1 to 24 hours inclusive.

Abstract: Phosphor that can provide white LED that uses a blue LED or an ultraviolet LED as a light source and that has superior luminous efficiency. This phosphor includes, as a main component, ?-type sialon represented by a general expression: (M1)x(M2)y(Si,Al)12(O,N)16 (where M1 is one or more types of elements selected from a group consisting of Li, Mg, Ca, Y, and lanthanide element (except for La and Ce) and M2 is one or more types of elements selected from a group consisting of Ce, Pr, Eu, Tb, Yb, and Er, and 0.3?X+Y?1.5 and 0<y?0.7 are established and the sialon phosphor consists of a powder having a specific surface area of 0.2 to 0.5 m2/g.

Abstract: An Eu-activated ?-sialon phosphor showing a high luminance, the use thereof and the method of producing the same. The ?-sialon phosphor includes, as a matrix, a ?-sialon crystal represented by a general formula: Si6-zAlzOzN8-z (0<z<4.2), wherein Eu, which serves as an activator, is solid-soluted in the ?-sialon crystal, and the ratio of Eu2+/(Eu2++Eu3+) is 0.8 or more. It is preferred that the amount of Eu in the solid solution is 0.1 to 1 mass % with respect to the mass of the ?-sialon crystal.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a phosphor that is combined with a blue LED to achieve white light at a low color temperature as if singly, has a broad fluorescence spectrum for excellent color rendering properties, has a high luminous efficiency, is thermally and chemically stable like conventional nitride-based phosphors, and has a small decrease in luminance at high temperatures. Another object of the present invention is to provide a light emitting device using such a phosphor. The present invention relates to a ?-sialon that is expressed by the general formula, Si6-zAlzOzN8-z:Eu (0<z<4.2). In the ?-sialon, P2/P1 is not lower than 0.5 and not higher than 1000 (P1 representing the height of an absorption line appearing in the region where g is 2.00±0.02 in a first derivative spectrum obtained by an electron spin resonance technique at 25° C., P2 representing the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value in a spectrum on the lower magnetic field side of P1).

Abstract: A method of producing ?-SiAlON includes a sintering process, in which ?-SiAlON starting materials, a mixture of silicon nitride, aluminum nitride, optically active element compound, and at least one compound selected from aluminum oxide and silicon oxide, are sintered at temperatures ranging from 1820° C. to 2200° C. The method provides new ?-SiAlON low in carbon content and having high luminescence intensity by placing a plurality of boron nitride vessels in a graphite box to allow the ?-SiAlON starting materials packed in the plurality of boron nitride vessels to easily come in contact with nitrogen gas, and performing sintering in nitrogen atmosphere.

Abstract: Offered is a fluorescent substance consisting of Eu-activated ?-sialon and capable of enhancing the brightness of a light emitting device such as a white LED using blue or ultraviolet light as a light source. The fluorescent substance has as its main constituent a ?-sialon represented by the general formula Si6-zAlzOzN8-z and containing Eu, wherein the spin density is 2.0×1017/g or less as measured by electron spin resonance spectroscopy corresponding to an absorption of g=2.00±0.02 at 25° C. In the above fluorescent substance, it is preferable that lattice constant a of the ?-sialon be 0.7608-0.7620 nm, the lattice constant c be 0.2908-0.2920 nm, and the Eu content be 0.1-3 mass %.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing ?-sialon, including: a mixing process wherein at least one of aluminum oxide and silicon oxide, silicon nitride, aluminum nitride, and europium compound are mixed; a burning process wherein the mixture having undergone the mixing process is heated at the temperature hither than 1950° C. but not exceeding 2200° C. for 10 hours or longer; and a heat treatment process wherein heat treatment is conducted after the burning process at the temperature from 1300° C. to 1600° C. in an atmosphere of inert gas other than nitrogen at the partial pressure of 10 kPa or lower.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ?-SiAlON phosphor that contains a ?-SiAlON represented by a general formula Si6-zAlzOzN8-z (0<z<4.2) as a matrix and Eu2+ in a form of a solid solution as an emission center, and exhibits a peak within a wavelength range from 520 to 560 nm when excited by blue light. The average diffuse reflectance of this ?-SiAlON phosphor in the wavelength range from 700 to 800 nm is 90% or higher, and the diffuse reflectance in the fluorescent peak wavelength is 85% or higher.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing ?-SiAlON represented by a general formula Si6-zAlzOzN8-z:Eu, including a baking step for baking a powdered material that contains Al content from 0.3 to 1.2 mass %, O content from 0.15 to 1 mass %, O/Al molar ratio from 0.9 to 1.3, Si content from 58 to 60 mass %, N content from 37 to 40 mass %, N/Si molar ratio from 1.25 to 1.45, and Eu content from 0.3 to 0.7 mass %. The baking step is a step of baking the powdered material in a nitrogen atmosphere at temperatures from 1850° C. to 2050° C., and the manufactured ?-SiAlON satisfies 0.280?x?0.340 and 0.630?y?0.675 on the CIExy chromaticity coordinate.

Abstract: Phosphor that can provide white LED that uses a blue LED or an ultraviolet LED as a light source and that has superior luminous efficiency. This phosphor includes, as a main component, ?-type sialon represented by a general expression: (M1)x(M2)y(Si,Al)12(O,N)16 (where M1 is one or more types of elements selected from a group consisting of Li, Mg, Ca, Y, and lanthanide element (except for La and Ce) and M2 is one or more types of elements selected from a group consisting of Ce, Pr, Eu, Tb, Yb, and Er, and 0.3?X+Y?1.5 and 0<Y?0.7 are established and the sialon phosphor consists of a powder having a specific surface area of 0.2 to 0.5 m2/g.

Abstract: A light-emitting device comprising a light source which emits excitation light and a fluorescent substance which absorbs the excitation light to emit light in combination, wherein a fluorescent substance comprising an ? type SiAlON represented by the general formula: (Ca?,Eu?)(Si,Al)12(O,N)16 (1.5<?+?<2.2, 0<?<0.2, O/N?0.04) as a main component and having a specific surface area of 0.1 to 0.35 m2/g is used as the fluorescent substance. This light-emitting device shows little color change due to temperature change and efficiently emits light, even when it is used in a high temperature environment, and it is especially suitable for lighting apparatuses for vehicles such as headlamps.

Abstract: ?-Sialon comprising Eu2+ that is present in a solid solution form in P-sialon represented by Si6-zAlzOzN ?m [wherein z is 0.3-1.5], which shows, when excited with light of 450 nm in wavelength, a peak wavelength of fluorescent spectrum of 545-560 nm, a half-value breadth of 55 nm or greater, and an external quantum efficiency of 45% or greater. The p-sialon can be produced by blending at least one kind of oxide selected from aluminum oxide and silicon oxide with silicon nitride and aluminum nitride in such a manner as to give z of 0.3-1.5, further adding thereto a europium compound and a ?-sialon powder having an average particle diameter of 5 ?m or greater and an average degree of circularity of 0.7 or greater, each in a definite amount, and baking the mixture.

Abstract: Provided is a phosphor material for a white LED with a blue LED or ultraviolet LED as a light source. A phosphor comprises an ?-sialon represented by the formula: (M1)X(M2)Y(Si)12?(m+n)(Al)m+n(O)n(N)16?n where M1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Li, Mg, Ca, Y and lanthanide metals (except for La and Ce), M2 is at least one element selected from Ce, Pr, Eu, Tb, Yb and Er, 0.3?X+Y?1.5, 0<Y?0.7, 0.6?m?3.0, 0?n?1.5 and X+Y=m/2; and the oxygen content in a powder of the ?-sialon is at most 0.4 mass % larger than a value calculated based on the formula.

Abstract: Provided is a phosphor particle group of divalent europium-activated oxynitride green light emitting phosphor particles (1) each of which is a ?-type SiAlON represented by a general formula: EuaSibAlcOdNe, where 0.005?a?0.4, b+c=12, d+e=16, wherein a mean value of a value obtained by dividing a longer particle diameter by a shorter particle diameter is not greater than 1.75. Also provided are a light emitting apparatus (11) using the phosphor particle group in a light converter (13), and a liquid crystal display television using the light emitting apparatus (11). With these, a high-efficiency and stable light emitting apparatus using a ?-type SiAlON, and a phosphor particle group therefor are provided.

Abstract: ?-sialon phosphor that is ?-sialon represented by a general expression: (M)x(Eu)y(Si, Al)12(O, N)16 (where M is one or more types of elements selected from a group consisting of Li, Mg, Ca, and Y as well as lanthanide element (except for La and Ce) and including at least Ca), the ?-sialon phosphor being structured so that an oxygen content is 1.2 mass % or less and primary particles constituting the ?-sialon have a columnar shape. When the ?-sialon phosphor receives ultraviolet rays or visible light having a wavelength from 250 to 500 nm as an excitation source, the ?-sialon phosphor shows a fluorescent characteristic having a peak in a wavelength region from 595 to 630 nm.

Abstract: A ? type Sialon fluorescent substance is disclosed that is capable of achieving enhanced brightness of a white light emitting diode using blue to ultraviolet light as a light source. In the fluorescent substance which contains not less than 90% by mass of a ? type Sialon composition represented by general formula: Si6-zAlzOzN8-z as a host material wherein z is not less than 0.24 and not more than 0.42, Eu is present dissolved in solid solution as a luminescent center at a content of 0.05 to 0.2% by atom. The ? type Sialon fluorescent substance is preferably in the form of a powder having an average particle size of not less than 1 ?m and not more than 20 ?m. A white LED of good luminescent characteristics can be obtained by using a blue or ultraviolet light emitting diode as a excitation light source in combination with a fluorescent substance that emits yellow or red light.