Abstract: An object is to provide a new type of near-infrared ray-emitting phosphor which exhibits excellent emission intensity. A near-infrared ray-emitting phosphor is represented by a general formula, (Y, Lu, Gd)3-x-y (Ga,Al,Sc)5O12:(Crx,(Yb,Nd)y) (0.05<x<0.3, 0?y<0.3).

Abstract: An object is to provide a new type of near-infrared ray-emitting phosphor which exhibits excellent emission intensity. A near-infrared ray-emitting phosphor is represented by a general formula, (Y,Lu,Gd)3-x-y (Ga,Al,Sc)5O12:(Crx,(Yb,Nd)y) (0.05<x<0.3, 0?y<0.3).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing stably a nitride fluorescent substance under more flexible reaction conditions at a low cost includes the steps of: mixing a raw material containing a complex of nitrogen element and metallic element; obtaining a raw material mixture; sintering the raw material mixture and obtaining a nitride or an oxynitride.

Abstract: A novel phosphor capable of exhibiting strong light emissions over a wide excitation wavelength range and a light-emitting device using such a phosphor are provided. Said phosphor is characterized by the fact that it contains a metal oxide containing at least one alkaline earth element selected from the group composed of Ca, Sr, and Ba, at least one element selected from the group composed of Be, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Mg, and Sn, at least one element selected from the group composed of B, Al, Ga, and In, and at least one element selected from the group composed of P and V, in which at least one element selected from the group composed of Ce, Pr, Sm, Nd, Gd, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Tm, Er, Yb, and Mn is contained as an added activator.

Abstract: A method for preparing fine particles of a high brightness luminescent material improved in crystallinity; and a high brightness luminescent material prepared by the method. In an embodiment, BaMgAl10O17:Eu (BAM) as a high brightness luminescent material is prepared by a method which comprises providing an aqueous solution containing an aluminum alcoholate and water-soluble compounds of barium, magnesium and europium, adding an acid to the aqueous solution to form an acidic solution, heating the acidic solution to ca.900° C. and conducting a calcination at the temperature for a short time, and subsequently, firing the calcined product at a temperature higher than that for the calcination, for example, 1400° C. or higher. The method allows the preparation of BAM which comprises spherical fine particles having a pure phase and being improved in crystallinity, and thus is reduced in the deterioration by heat or VUV.

Abstract: A plasma display panel having its thermal degradation and VUV deterioration reduced through enhancement of the crystallinity of luminant excitable with vacuum ultraviolet radiation to thereby attain an enhancement of luminous efficiency; and a process for producing the same. The plasma display panel comprises a pair of opposite arranged substrates and, interposed therebetween, a phosphor layer that is excited with vacuum ultraviolet radiation to thereby emit light, the phosphor layer containing spherical fine particles of a luminant excitable with vacuum ultraviolet radiation. The luminant is composed only of a matrix substance and an activator and is highly pure without having any impurity phase. Accordingly, the phosphor layer can be formed while maintaining the luminance of luminant excitable with vacuum ultraviolet radiation, so that the luminescence intensity of phosphor layer can be enhanced. Thus, there can be provided a plasma display of high luminance.