Abstract: A fluorophor includes: ?-type sialon crystal which is expressed by a general formula: (Lix1, Eux2)(Si12?(m+n)Alm+n)(OnN16?n), wherein x1 is an amount of solid solution of Li in a sialon unit cell, and x2 is an amount of solid solution of Eu in the sialon unit cell, wherein the parameters x1, x2, m, and n satisfy: 1.6?x1?2.4 (1), 0.001?x2?0.4 (2), 1.8?m?2.4 (3), 0.8?n?1.2 (4), wherein the ?-type sialon crystal emits fluorescence with a peak in a wavelength region of from 550 nm to 575 nm upon irradiation of an excitation source.

Abstract: A fluorophor includes: ?-type sialon crystal which is expressed by a general formula: (Lix1, Eux2) (Si12?(m+n)Alm+n)(OnN16?n), wherein x1 is an amount of solid solution of Li in a sialon unit cell, and x2 is an amount of solid solution of Eu in the sialon unit cell, wherein the parameters x1, x2, m, and n satisfy: 1.6?x1?2.4 (1), 0.001?x2?0.4 (2), 1.8?m?2.4 (3), 0.8?n?1.2 (4), wherein the ?-type sialon crystal emits fluorescence with a peak in a wavelength region of from 550 nm to 575 nm upon irradiation of an excitation source.

Abstract: A fluorophor which comprises as a main component, an ? type sialon crystal containing at least Li, A element (wherein A represents one or more elements selected from among Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Er, Tm and Yb), M element (wherein M represents one or more metal elements except Li and the A element), Si, Al, oxygen and nitrogen. The fluorophor has an a type sialon crystal structure which is represented by the general formulae: (Lix1, Ax2, Mx3)(Si12?(m+n)Alm+n)(OnN16?n) 1.2?x1?2.4 (1) 0.001?x2?0.4 (2) and 0?x3?1.0 (3), and has a luminescence peak at a wavelength in the range of 400 to 700 nm. The above phosphor is reduced in the lowering of brightness, and can be suitably used for a white LED and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed are violet, blue, and green phosphors having excellent durability and high luminance. Specifically disclosed is a phosphor which contains a metal element M (M is at least one element selected from among Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Tm and Yb) for constituting a metal ion, which is solid-solubilized in an AlON crystal, an AlON solid solution crystal or an inorganic crystal having the same crystal structure as AlON. The phosphor is capable of emitting fluorescence having a peak in the wavelength range from 300 nm to 700 nm. Also disclosed is a method for producing such a phosphor. Further disclosed are an illuminating device and an image display each containing such a phosphor.

Abstract: According to the invention, a highly crystalline ?-sialon is synthesized to emit highly intense light and a white LED showing an excellent color rendering characteristic is provided by shifting emitted light to the short wavelength side (blue shift). Such an ?-sialon is designed so as to be expressed by general formula (Lix, Cay, Euz) (Si12?(m+n)Alm+n) (OnN16?n) wherein the numerical ranges of x, y, z, m and n are respectively 0<x<2.0, 0<y<2.0, 0<z?0.5 (provided that 0.3?x+y+z?2.0), 0<m?4.0 and 0<n?3.0.

Abstract: A fluorophor comprising, as a main component, an ?-type sialon crystal which contains at least an A element (wherein A represents one or more elements selected from among Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Er, Tm and Yb), an M element (wherein M represents one or more elements selected from among Li, Na, Mg, Ca, Y, La, Gd and Lu), Si, Al, oxygen and nitrogen, and is represented by the general formula: (Mx, Ay)(Si12?(m+n)Alm+n)(OnN16?n) (1) m=?M×x+?A×y (2) 0.2?x?2.4 (3) 0.001?y?0.4 (4) and 0.5×m<n?4 (5). The fluorophor is reduced in the lowering of brightness, and is useful for a white color LED and the like.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an inorganic phosphor, particularly, an oxynitride phosphor containing alkaline earths which has a higher luminance than that of conventional sialon phosphors activated with a rare earth, and is chemically stable. By baking a raw material mixture containing at least silicon nitride powder, M element containing inorganic substance, and A element containing inorganic substance at a temperature range of 1200° C. to 2200° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, a phosphor comprising an inorganic composition containing at least M Element, A Element, silicon, oxygen, and nitrogen (wherein M Element is one or two or more elements selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb, A Element is one or two or more elements selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba) and containing at least crystal having the same crystal structure as that of A2Si5N8 and A element-containing crystal is obtained.

Abstract: According to the invention, a highly crystalline ?-sialon is synthesized to emit highly intense light and a white LED showing an excellent color rendering characteristic is provided by shifting emitted light to the short wavelength side (blue shift). Such an ?-sialon is designed so as to be expressed by general formula (Lix, Cay, Euz) (Si12-(m+n)Alm+n) (OnN16-n) wherein the numerical ranges of x, y, z, m and n are respectively 0<x<2.0, 0<y<2.0, 0<z?0.5 (provided that 0.3?x+y+z?2.0), 0<m?4.0 and 0<n?3.0.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a chemically stabilized inorganic phosphor, among oxynitride phosphors including alkaline earths, which oxynitride phosphor emits orange or red light at longer wavelengths at higher luminance than conventional sialon phosphors activated by rare earths. The present invention further aims at providing a light emitting instrument based on the phosphor, for a lighting instrument excellent in color rendering property and for an image displaying apparatus excellent in durability. The solving means resides in provision of a fundamental phosphor comprising: a composition on a pseudo-ternary phase diagram including AO (A is one kind or two or more kinds of element(s) selected from Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba; and AO is oxide of A), Si3N4, and SiO2 as end members, respectively, and satisfying all of the following conditions: in a composition formula, pAO-qSi3N4-rSiO2(p+q+r=1), 0.1?p?0.95??(1), 0.05?q?0.9??(2), and 0?r?0.

Abstract: Disclosed are violet, blue, and green phosphors having excellent durability and high luminance. Specifically disclosed is a phosphor which contains a metal element M (M is at least one element selected from among Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Tm and Yb) for constituting a metal ion, which is solid-solubilized in an AlON crystal, an AlON solid solution crystal or an inorganic crystal having the same crystal structure as AlON. The phosphor is capable of emitting fluorescence having a peak in the wavelength range from 300 nm to 700 nm. Also disclosed is a method for producing such a phosphor. Further disclosed are an illuminating device and an image display each containing such a phosphor.

Abstract: A fluorophor which comprises as a main component, an ? type sialon crystal containing at least Li, A element (wherein A represents one or more elements selected from among Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Er, Tm and Yb), M element (wherein M represents one or more metal elements except Li and the A element), Si, Al, oxygen and nitrogen. The fluorophor has an a type sialon crystal structure which is represented by the general formulae: (Lix1, Ax2, Mx3)(Si12?(m+n)Alm+n)(OnN16?n) 1.2?x1?2.4 (1) 0.001?x2?0.4 (2) and 0?x3?1.0 (3), and has a luminescence peak at a wavelength in the range of 400 to 700 nm. The above phosphor is reduced in the lowering of brightness, and can be suitably used for a white LED and the like.

Abstract: A fluorophor comprising, as a main component, an ?-type sialon crystal which contains at least an A element (wherein A represents one or more elements selected from among Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Er, Tm and Yb), an M element (wherein M represents one or more elements selected from among Li, Na, Mg, Ca, Y, La, Gd and Lu), Si, Al, oxygen and nitrogen, and is represented by the general formulae: (Mx, Ay)(Si12?(m+n)Alm+n)(OnN16?n) (1) m=?M×x+?A×y (2) 0.2?x?2.4 (3) 0.001?y?0.4 (4) and 0.5×m<n?4 (5). The fluorophor is reduced in the lowering of brightness, and is useful for a white color LED and the like.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an inorganic phosphor, particularly, an oxynitride phosphor containing alkaline earths which has a higher luminance than that of conventional sialon phosphors activated with a rare earth, and is chemically stable. By baking a raw material mixture containing at least silicon nitride powder, M element containing inorganic substance, and A element containing inorganic substance at a temperature range of 1200° C. to 2200° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, a phosphor comprising an inorganic composition containing at least M Element, A Element, silicon, oxygen, and nitrogen (wherein M Element is one or two or more elements selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb, A Element is one or two or more elements selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba) and containing at least crystal having the same crystal structure as that of A2Si5N8 and A element-containing crystal is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a chemically stabilized inorganic phosphor, among oxynitride phosphors including alkaline earths, which oxynitride phosphor emits orange or red light at longer wavelengths at higher luminance than conventional sialon phosphors activated by rare earths. The present invention further aims at providing a light emitting instrument based on the phosphor, for a lighting instrument excellent in color rendering property and for an image displaying apparatus excellent in durability. The solving means resides in provision of a fundamental phosphor comprising: a composition on a pseudo-ternary phase diagram including AO (A is one kind or two or more kinds of element(s) selected from Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba; and AO is oxide of A), Si3N4, and SiO2 as end members, respectively, and satisfying all of the following conditions: in a composition formula, pAO-qSi3N4-rSiO2 (p+q+r=1), 0.1?p?0.95, ??(1) 0.05?q?0.9, and ??(2) 0?r?0.