Abstract: The invention relates to a colloidal dispersion comprising rhabdophane-structured rare-earth phosphate particles (Ln) and a polyphosphate. Said dispersion is prepared by a method consisting in forming a medium comprising at least one type of rare-earth salt and a poly phosphate in such quantities that the P/Ln ratio is equal to or higher than 3, in heating the thus obtained medium and in removing residual salts, thereby obtaining said dispersion. Said invention also relates to a transparent luminescent material which is obtainable from said dispersion and based on the rare-earth phosphate particles and a polyphosphate and whose P/Ln ratio is higher than 1, to a luminescent system comprising said material and to an excitation source.

Abstract: A green phosphor, a plasma display panel (PDP) including the same, and a method for making the same. In one example, the green phosphor includes strontium (Sr); aluminum (Al); europium (Eu); and at least one element (M) selected from the group consisting of phosphorous (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), and bismuth (Bi).

Abstract: Disclosed are near-infrared light-emitting phosphor nanoparticles with an extremely small particle size, which emit light with a high intensity of emission and which are suitable for a biological substance labeling agent, a method for manufacturing the same, and a biological substance labeling agent employing the same. The near-infrared light-emitting phosphor nanoparticles of the invention are near-infrared light-emitting phosphor nanoparticles with an average particle size of from 2 to 50 nm, which when excited by a near-infrared light with a wavelength in the range of from 700 to 900 nm, emit a near-infrared light with a wavelength in the range of from 700 to 2000 nm, the nanoparticles being characterized in that at least a part of the composition is represented by a specific formula.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phosphor composite material which can be fired at low temperatures and enables to obtain a phosphor composite member which is excellent in weather resistance and reduced in deterioration after long use. Also disclosed is a phosphor composite member obtained by firing such a phosphor composite material. Specifically disclosed is a phosphor composite material composed of a glass powder and a phosphor powder, which is characterized in that the glass powder is composed of SnO—P2O5—B2O3 glass.

Abstract: A phosphor composition for a low-pressure discharge lamp with a high light yield and a high color temperature contains phosphors which emit in the red wavelength region, including yttrium oxide doped with europium or gadolinium-zinc-magnesium pentaborate doped with cerium and manganese, phosphors which emit in the green wavelength region including lanthanum phosphate doped with cerium and terbium and/or cerium-magnesium aluminate doped with terbium and/or cerium-magnesium pentaborate doped with terbium, and optionally a phosphor which emits in the blue wavelength region of the barium-magnesium aluminate doped with europium type.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp comprising a light-transmitting discharge vessel, said discharge vessel enclosing, in a gastight manner, a discharge space provided with a filling of mercury, at least a part of a wall of the discharge vessel being provided with a luminescent composition comprising a first UV-A phosphor of general formula (Gd1-x-y-zYxLuy)PO4:Cez, wherein 0?x<1.0, 0?y<1.0, 0<z?0.2 and x+y+z<1, the low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp comprising also discharge means for igniting and maintaining an electric discharge in the discharge vessel. Such lamp is especially useful for tanning purposes as well as cosmetic and medical purposes. The invention is also concerned with an UV-A phosphor of general formula (Gd1-x-y-zYxLuy)PO4:Cez, wherein 0?x<1.0, 0?y<z?0.2 and x+y+z<1.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photoluminescent material comprising a composition of: aL. bm. cAL. dSi. pP. O. :fR Formula (I) wherein L is selected from Na and/or K; M is a divalent metal selected from one or more of the group consisting of Sr, Ca, Mg and Ba; Al, Si, P and O represent their respective elements; R is selected from one or more rare earth element activators; and wherein the variables a, b, c, d, p and f are: 0.0<a<0.1 0.0<b<0.3 0.0<c<0.4 0.0<d<0.3 0.0<p<0.5 0.0<f<0.25, with the proviso that at least one of the variables d and p is, and at least one of the variables a and b is 0. There is also provided a method involving a sol-gel process of manufacturing the photoluminescent material comprising. There is also provided the use of said photoluminescent material in glass-like end products.

Abstract: The sensitivity of YPO4:Ce phosphors to 185 nm radiation may be increased by incorporating a praseodymium coactivator. The use of Ce and Pr as co-activators in a YPO4 phosphor improves the sensitivity of the phosphor to excitation by both 185 nm and 254 nm radiation and should increase total UVA and UVB output in fluorescent lamps. The co-activated phosphor has emission peaks at about 355 nm and about 335 nm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new ultra-long after-glow phosphorescent material and manufacturing method for the same. The said materials include a phosphor including aMS.bM3(PO4)2.cMSiO2.dMO.fAl2O3.xRO.yTR2O3.zMnO, where the M is Ca, Mg, Ba, Sr, Zn or combinations thereof, The R is Eu, Sm, Yb, Pr and Nd or combinations thereof; the TR is La, Y, Nd, Dy, Er, Tu, Ce, Ho or combinations thereof; and a, b, c, d, f x, y, z is the number of mol. The phosphorescent material has superior water resistance and temperature resistance.

Abstract: A phosphor composition for a low-pressure discharge lamp with a high light yield and a high color temperature contains phosphors which emit in the red wavelength region, including yttrium oxide doped with europium or gadolinium-zinc-magnesium pentaborate doped with cerium and manganese, phosphors which emit in the green wavelength region including lanthanum phosphate doped with cerium and terbium and/or cerium-magnesium aluminate doped with terbium and/or cerium-magnesium pentaborate doped with terbium, and optionally a phosphor which emits in the blue wavelength region of the barium-magnesium aluminate doped with europium type.

Abstract: An infrared fluorescent particle comprising a functional group or a substance that is capable of binding to an analyte, wherein fluorescence at infrared wavelength is emitted from the particle upon exposure of the particle to excitation light at infrared wavelength. The infrared fluorescent particle of the present invention is capable of binding to the analyte. Due to a high penetration of the fluorescence and the excitation light into biological substances, the infrared fluorescent particle of the present invention can reduce an influence of luminescence, light absorption or light scattering which is occurred due to the analyte and the surrounding substances.

Abstract: A UV-emitting phosphor and lamp containing same are described. The phosphor is a praseodymium-activated pyrophosphate-based phosphor which may be represented by the general formula (Ca2-x,Srx)P2O7:Pr where 0?x?2. The phosphor is excitable by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation and in particular it may be excited by Xe-excimer discharges and thereby provide a Hg-free UV-emitting lamp. The phosphor exhibits a broad emission in the UVC region in the wavelength range from about 220 nm to about 280 nm with the peak emission occurring in the wavelength range from about 230 nm to about 240 nm. The emission characteristics of the phosphor may be varied depending on the ratio of Sr/Ca.

Abstract: A UV-emitting, Ce,Pr-coactivated calcium pyrophosphate phosphor is provided wherein the Pr activator increases the phosphor's sensitivity to excitation by 185 nm radiation. The improved sensitivity to the 185 nm radiation allows the phosphor to make better use of the approximate 10% of the UV radiation that is emitted at 185 nm by a low pressure mercury discharge.

Abstract: Oxo-acid salts, double oxides or complex oxides contain 0.001-10 atom % of Zr or Hf. They emit near-ultraviolet radiation when excited with vacuum-ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: A rare earth phosphate represented by the formula: RPO4 wherein R is a rare earth element selected from Sc, Y, and lanthanoids of atomic numbers 57 to 71, wherein Mn substitutes for 0.01-15 atom % of R emits blue light when excited by vacuum-UV radiation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method performing a glass split phase technique to make an oxide glass with a strong structure phase and a weak structure phase. The strong structure phase has a three-dimensional continuous web-like distribution, and the weak structure phase has a continuous web-like distribution or an independent drop-like distribution. The weak structure phase receives rare earth elements therein more than the strong structure phase. Therefore, the rare earth elements are concentrated in the weak structure phase to increase the fluorescence intensity of the oxide glass by an increase of a concentration and a fluorescence efficiency of the rare earth elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a phosphor composition for lamps with a lattice of monoclinic crystal structure (monazite) of type (1?g)[((1?c?a)*Ln, c*Ce, a*A)PO4]×g*GeO2, in which Ln is at least one element selected from the group consisting of lanthanum La, gadolinium Gd and/or Yttrium Y and A is at least one activator selected from the group consisting of terbium Tb, praseodymium Pr and/or europium Eu, and 0?a?1.0; 0?c?1.0, and 0<g?0.2.

Abstract: A method of making a haloapatite phosphor having a general formula represented by (Ca(1?x?y)MnxSby)5(PO4)3(F(1?z?y)ClzOy), where 0<x<0.05, 0.004<y<0.01, and 0<z<0.1. is provided. The method involves (a) formulating a blend of ingredients to make the haloapatite phosphor, the ingredients including CaHPO4 as a primary source of calcium and phosphorus, (b) partially substituting an amount of an equimolar combination of an ammonium phosphate compound and calcium carbonate for an equal number of moles of CaHPO4 in the formulation, (c) combining the ingredients in their formulated amounts to form the blend, and (d) firing the blend to form the haloapatite phosphor. The partial substitution has been found to increase the 100-hour brightness of the haloapatite phosphors.

Abstract: To minimize the variability in the emitted light color and improve the unevenness of color tone, a light emitting device comprises a light emitting element and a fluorescent substance that is excited by the light emitting element, wherein the light emitting element has an emission spectrum in a region from ultraviolet to visible light of short wavelengths, and the fluorescent substance has an emission spectrum that includes two or more emission peaks with at least two peaks of the two or more peaks being in the relation of complementary colors of each other.

Abstract: The present invention is a single-component, UV-emitting phosphor having a composition represented by the general formula (Y1?x?y?zLaxGdyCeZ)PO4 where x has a value in a range from 0.001 to 0.98, y has a value in a range from 0 and 0.1, z has a value in a range from 0.01 and 0.2, and x+y+z<1. The phosphor when stimulated by 254 nm radiation emits in both the UVA and UVB regions. The relative balance of the UVA and UVB emissions may be varied by adjusting the relative amounts of Y and La. Brightness can be increased by adding Gd to the composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing rare earth trichromatic phosphor, comprising the following steps: (1) providing precursors for at least one composition formula selected from the group consisting of CaBPO5:xEu:yTb, CaAlrB1-rPO5:xEu:yTb and Ca2B5O9Cl:xEu:yTb, wherein x=0.02–0.05 (mole ratio), y=0.001–0.01 (mole ratio) and r=0.5–0.8; (2) grinding and mixing the precursors; and (3) calcining the product obtained in step (2) at 800–1000° C. for 3–5 hours. According to the present process, only one matrix material and two rare earth reactive ions (Eu3+ and Tb3+) are required to synthesize rare earth trichromatic phosphor. That is to say, no reducing reagent is needed; and absence of reducing agent(s) reduces environmental pollution.

Abstract: A method of making a luminescent nanomaterial having a plurality of nanoparticles. The luminescent nanomaterial includes at least one lanthanide group metal phosphate and at least one lanthanide series dopant, wherein each of the plurality of nanoparticles has a predetermined morphology. The luminescent nanomaterial has a high quantum efficiency and a high absorption value. The method yields a variety of morphologies and sizes of the plurality of nanoparticles. The particles size of the luminescent material varies from tens of nanometers to a few hundred of nanometers.

Abstract: A high-gain phosphate glass composition, which can be used to produce ultra-short gain length lasers and optical amplifiers is described wherein the composition of the glass in addition to exhibiting high gain for lasers and amplifiers, also exhibits high thermal shock resistance, high cross section, insignificant concentration quenching, and high solubility for rare earth ions and other properties which enable the material to be fabricated into a new class of ultra-short length micro-laser, fiber laser and amplifier configurations and designs.

Abstract: A single-component calcium halophosphate (ARTIC BRITE) Phosphor and a low pressure discharge lamp utilizing such a phosphor is provided having a lamp envelope having an inner surface, means within the lamp envelope for generating ultraviolet radiation; and a layer of a luminescent material adjacent the inner surface of the lamp envelope for generating visible light when impinged by the ultraviolet radiation. The phosphor material is at least one layer of a single-component calcium halophosphate phosphor having CIE color coordinates of X=346 and Y=359 and a CRI of at least 69, preferably a calcium halophosphate having the formula Ca5−x−ySbxMny(PO4)3ClzF1−x−z, wherein x is from about 0.032 to 0.037; y is from about 0.06 to 0.14; and z is about 0.025 to 0.05, derived from low cost, mined calcium carbonate, derived from a formulation that employs a high metals-to-phosphate (Ca+Mn) ratio of about 9.

Abstract: Halophosphate luminescent materials co-activated with europium and manganese ions and having the general formula of (Ca,Sr,Ba,Mg)5(PO4)3:Eu2+,Mn2+ are disclosed. The inclusion of manganese shifts the peak emission to longer wavelengths and, thus, is beneficial in generating a bright yellow-to-orange light. White-light sources are produced by disposing a halophosphate luminescent material, optionally with a blue light-emitting phosphor, in the vicinity of a near UV/blue LED. Blue light-emitting phosphors that may be used in embodiments of the present inventions are Sr4Al14O25:Eu2+, Sr6P6BO20:Eu2+, BaAl8O13:Eu2+, (Sr,Mg,Ca,Ba)5(PO4)3Cl:Eu2+, and Sr2Si3O6.2SrCl2:Eu2+.

Abstract: There is provided a halophosphate phosphor having the formula (Ca, Mg, Ba, Sr, Zn)5(PO4)3(F, Cl, Br): Sb3+, Mn2+ doped with at least one rare earth ion which has a higher charge carrier capture cross section than the phosphor lattice defects. The rare earth ion preferentially traps charge carriers and thus decreases the density of color centers. The rare earth ions are preferably trivalent ions selected from Eu3+, Sm3+, Yb3+, Tm3+, Ce3+, Tb3+ and Pr3+.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a compound based on a thulium-containing lanthanum phosphate as a phosphor in a plasma or X-ray system. This phosphate may furthermore contain gadolinium. The thulium content of the compound, expressed in at % with respect to the lanthanum, is between 0.1 and 10, more particularly between 0.5 and 5. The invention also covers a lanthanum phosphate which is characterized in that it contains thulium and in that it consists of particles having a mean size of between 1 and 20 &mgr;m with a dispersion index of less than 0.6.