Luminescent material and light emitting diode using the same

1. A luminescent material excitable in the UV-blue region from 360 to 470 nm, the luminescent material comprising a Eu-doped host lattice with a general composition of MAl 2-x Si x O 4-x N x ,

wherein M is at least one of an alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba, with 0.002≦x≦1.5 and with a proportion of Eu from 0.1 to 25% of M.

2. The luminescent material according to claim 1 , wherein the host lattice is derived from a tridymite structure.

3. The luminescent material according to claim 1 , wherein M is at least one of Strontium and Barium in order to achieve green emission.

4. The luminescent material according to claim 1 , wherein M is Calcium in order to achieve blue emission.

5. The luminescent material according to claim 1 , wherein M is a mixture of at least two alkaline earth metals selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba.

6. The luminescent material according to claim 1 , wherein M comprises Zn.

7. The luminescent material according to claim 1 , wherein Al is replaced fully by Ga.

8. The luminescent material according to claim 1 , wherein Si is replaced fully by Ge.

9. The luminescent material according to claim 1 , wherein the host material is further doped with Mn.

10. A light source comprising a luminescent material according to claim 1 .

11. A light source comprising a luminescent material according to claim 1 , wherein a primary emitted light is blue and the luminescent material is combined with an additional phosphor, in order to convert part of the primary emitted light into a secondary emitted light of longer wavelength resulting in emitting white light.

12. A light source comprising a luminescent material according to claim 1 , wherein a primary emitted radiation is UV and the luminescent material is combined with an additional phosphor in order to convert the primary emitted radiation into a secondary emitted light of longer wavelength resulting in emitting white light.

13. The light source according to claim 10 , wherein the light source comprises at least one LED.

14. The light source according to claim 11 , wherein the additional phosphor is a red emitting phosphor.

15. The light source according to claim 12 , wherein the luminescent material is a blue emitting phosphor and the additional phosphor is a red emitting phosphor.

16. The luminescent material according to claim 1 , wherein x is below 0.7.

17. The luminescent material according to claim 1 , wherein M comprises Zn up to 40 mol-%.

18. The luminescent material according to claim 1 , wherein Al is replaced partially by Ga.

19. The luminescent material according to claim 1 , wherein Si is replaced partially by Ge of not more than 25%.

20. The luminescent material according to claim 1 , wherein the host material is further doped with Mn in an amount of up to 50% of the Eu doping.