Abstract: A fluorescent marker comprising inorganic fluorescent nanoparticles having on a surface of the nanoparticles a modifying group containing a reactive portion, wherein the reactive portion is located at a most remote site of the modifying group from the surface of the nanoparticles; the reactive portion comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of bases consisting of DNA or RNA, nucleotides, polynucleotides and intercalators; and the reactive portion is capable of specifically binding to a living organism.

Abstract: The present invention provide a semiconductor phosphor nanoparticle assembly which exhibits no variation in emission wavelength and emission intensity for every particle and is capable of achieving stable evaluation when performing a single molecule observation by using an assembly of semiconductor phosphor nanoparticles as a fluorescence labeling agent, a production method thereof and a single molecule observation method by use thereof. The production method of the semiconductor phosphor nanoparticle assembly, which is performed by a liquid phase process or a gas phase process, comprises the steps of forming nuclear particles and allowing the nuclear particles to grow or fuse, wherein a concentration by number of the formed nuclear particles is not more than a specific concentration.

Abstract: Disclosed are an assembly of semiconductor nanoparticle phosphors, which can provide stable evaluation without variation in emission wavelength or in intensity of emission among the particles when used as a labeling agent through which a single-molecule observation is carried out, a preparation method of the assembly, and a single-molecule observation method employing the assembly. Also disclosed is a method for preparing an assembly of semiconductor nanoparticle phosphors according to a liquid phase method, the method comprising the step of reacting a semiconductor precursor at a temperature which is not lower than the melting point of the semiconductor precursor and is not higher than the boiling point of a solvent.

Abstract: Disclosed are core/shell type semiconductor nanoparticles exhibiting a sufficient emission intensity without causing a blink phenomenon (blinking). The core/shell-type semiconductor nanoparticles have an average particle size of from 2 to 50 nm and comprise an intermediate layer between a core portion and a shell portion, wherein band gap widths of bulk crystals which have the same compositions as those of the core portion, the intermediate portion and the shell portion, respectively, are in the order of: core portion<shell portion<intermediate layer.

Abstract: A labeling fluorescent compound which enables highly stable detection in vital labeling and has high sensitivity. The labeling fluorescent compound is characterized by being composed of inorganic fluorescent nanoparticles which have a surface modification compound disposed on the surface thereof and have an average particle diameter of 1.0-20 nm. It is further characterized in that the proportion of the length of the surface modification compound as measured from the surface of the inorganic fluorescent nanoparticles to the particle diameter of the inorganic fluorescent nanoparticles is from 0.10 to 0.50, and that the proportion of the specific gravity of the inorganic fluorescent nanoparticles having the surface modification compound fixed thereto to the specific gravity of the inorganic fluorescent nanoparticles not having the surface modification compound is from 0.80 to 0.40.

Abstract: A biomolecule detection reagent comprising a semiconductor nanoparticle aggregate, wherein each semiconductor nanoparticle, constituting the semiconductor nanoparticle aggregate, has detection molecules binding specifically with biomolecules on its surface, and a standard deviation of numbers of the detection molecules existing on each semiconductor nanoparticle, is 5% or less.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fluorescent semiconductor particle having a core/shell structure composed of a core particle as a semiconductor particle, and a shell layer by which the core particle is covered, wherein the core particle has a different chemical composition from that of the shell layer; the core particle has an average particle diameter of 1-15 nm and a specific gravity of 1.0-3.0; and the fluorescent semiconductor particle having the core/shell structure has a specific gravity of 0.8-3.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method to produce a semiconductor nanoparticle which is excellent in monodispersibility and productivity. This method is characterized in that two or more kinds of semiconductor nanoparticles having different average particle diameters are dispersed in a solvent and mixed together, and then subjected to size classification.

Abstract: An objective is to provide a nanosized semiconductor particle having a core/shell structure in which a ratio of shell thickness/core portion particle diameter exhibits an optimal ratio in optical properties of optical elements. The particle comprising the structure in which shell portion has a thickness of not more than 1/2 of core portion particle diameter, wherein core portion has a particle diameter of less than 20 nm, and shell portion has a thickness of at least 0.2 nm; core portion has a particle diameter of 20-100 nm, and shell portion has a thickness of at least 1/100 of a core portion particle diameter; core portion possesses at least one element of B, C, N, Al, Si, P, S, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Cd, In, Sb and Te; and shell portion has a composition exhibiting a larger band gap than that of core portion.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a nanosized phosphor exhibiting enhanced luminance as a molecular labeling phosphor by controlling an electrostatic charge of an inorganic phosphor. The nanosized phosphor is featured in that at least 90% of total particles have a particle size of 1 to 100 nm and an electrostatic charge of the total particles is in the range of ?20 ?C/g to 5 ?C/g.

Abstract: A fluorescent labeling substance that is capable of realizing highly appropriate labeling through enhancing of the luminous efficiency of semiconductor nanoparticles or nanorods. The fluorescent labeling substance can be provided by disposing on a surface of shell of nanorods or nanoparticles having a modification group capable of adsorption with a biosubstance, such as protein, nucleic acid or antibody, a region devoid of the above modification group.

Abstract: Disclosed are a phosphor in which prevention of aging deterioration of luminance and prevention of deterioration of discharging characteristics are compatible, a method of manufacturing the phosphor, and a plasma display panel manufactured by using the phosphor. A phosphor of the invention containing Mn as an activator is one with Mn serving as a major emission, wherein a ratio of an activator concentration in a superficial portion of a phosphor particle to an activator concentration inside the phosphor particle is 0.3-0.7.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing a phosphor which exhibits superior optical characteristics and improved resistance to deterioration, comprising the steps of subjecting a phosphor precursor obtained by a liquid phase process to a first calcination under an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a prescribed temperature and then subjecting the calcined phosphor precursor to a second calcination at a temperature lower than the temperature of the first calcination.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to control damage of a phosphor caused by an etching solution. Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a phosphor having the steps of: (a) crushing phosphor particles via a crushing treatment process, and (b) surface-treating phosphor particles dispersed in a solvent by adding an etching solution via a surface treatment process, wherein an adding speed of the etching solution is in a range of 1.2×10?16-7.0×10?15 mol/min. per 1 m2 of specific surface area of the phosphor particles.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a phosphor comprising the steps of: forming a precursor of the phosphor in a liquid phase; and firing the precursor to form the phosphor, wherein the step of firing the precursor comprises a plurality of firing steps of the precursor in an inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: An objective is to provide a core/shell type particle phosphor exhibiting an optimal excitation wavelength for fluorescence observation and excellent emission luminance of PL, together with excellent durability, to which particles are produced so as to be suitable for the field of bio-nanotechnology. Disclosed is a core/shell type particle phosphor comprising a core particle phosphor and coated thereon, a shell made of a metal compound having a different composition from a composition constituting the core particle phosphor, wherein the core particle phosphor is a particle phosphor prepared by baking a precursor synthesized via a reactive crystallization method, satisfying a PL (photoluminescence) intensity ratio A of the core particle phosphor to the core/shell type particle phosphor, {PL intensity(core)/PL intensity(core/shell)}; 0.001?A?0.1, and a core/shell type particle diameter of at most 0.1 ?m.

Abstract: Disclosed are a phosphor in which prevention of aging deterioration of luminance and prevention of deterioration of discharging characteristics are compatible, a method of manufacturing the phosphor, and a plasma display panel manufactured by using the phosphor. A phosphor of the invention containing Mn as an activator is one with Mn serving as a major emission, wherein a ratio of an activator concentration in a superficial portion of a phosphor particle to an activator concentration inside the phosphor particle is 0.3-0.7.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to control damage of a phosphor caused by an etching solution. Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a phosphor having the steps of: (a) crushing phosphor particles via a crushing treatment process, and (b) surface-treating phosphor particles dispersed in a solvent by adding an etching solution via a surface treatment process, wherein an adding speed of the etching solution is in a range of 1.2×10?16-7.0×10?15 mol/min. per 1 m2 of specific surface area of the phosphor particles.

Abstract: A photothermographica material is disclosed, comprising an organic silver salt and a light sensitive silver halide, wherein the photothermographic material contains a hydrophilic binder of 0.5 to 2 g per mol of the organic silver salt and the organic silver salt having been formed in the presence of the silver halide of 7×1015 to 3×1017 grains per mol of the organic salt.

Abstract: A photothermographic material comprising a support having thereon a photosensitive layer comprising non-photosensitive organic silver salt grains, photosensitive silver halide grains, a binder, a cross-linking agent, and a reducing agent, wherein a silver coverage in the photosensitive layer is from 0.3 to 2.0 g/m2; the number of developed silver halide grains N1 in the maximum density area is from 5×1013 to 1×1015/m2 when the photothermographic material is subjected to exposure in an exposure amount of 280 &mgr;J/cm2 and subsequently is subjected to heat development at 123° C. for 16.5 seconds; and, in the maximum density area, the number of developed silver halide grains N1 and the number of undeveloped silver halide grains N2 satisfy the formula; 0.70≦N1/(N1+N2)≦0.95.