Method of making haloapatite phosphors

1. A method of making a haloapatite phosphor having a general formula represented by (Ca (1−x−y) Mn x Sb y ) 5 (PO 4 ) 3 (F (1−z−y) Cl z O y ), where 0<x<0.05, 0.004<y<0.01, and 0<z<0.1, the method comprising:

(a) formulating a blend of ingredients to make the haloapatite phosphor, the ingredients including CaHPO 4 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 CaHPO 4 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.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein 0.020<x<0.025 0.0045<y<0.0075, and 0.04<z<0.08.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the ammonium phosphate compound is diammonium phosphate and the partial substitution is about 10 mole percent.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the ammonium phosphate compound is selected from diammonium phosphate and monoammonium dihydrogen phosphate.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the partial substitution is in a range from about 5 to about 20 mole percent.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the partial substitution is in a range from about 7.5 to about 12.5 mole percent.

7. A method of making a haloapatite phosphor having a general formula represented by (Ca (1−x−y) Mn x Sb y ) 5 (PO 4 ) 3 (F (1−z−y) Cl z O y ), where 0<x<0.05, 0.004<y<0.01, and 0<z<0.1, the method comprising:

(a) combining ingredients in amounts formulated to produce the haloapatite phosphor, the ingredients including CaHPO 4 , an ammonium phosphate compound, CaCO 3 , a halogen source, an antimony source and a manganese source; and

(b) firing the combined ingredients to form the haloapatite phosphor.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the halogen source is a combination of calcium fluoride and ammonium chloride, the antimony source is antimony oxide and the manganese source is manganese carbonate.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the ammonium phosphate compound is diammonium phosphate.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein 0.020<x<0.025, 0.0045<y<0.0075, and 0.04<z<0.08.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the ammonium phosphate compound is present in the combined ingredients in an amount from about 5 to about 20 mole percent based on the sum of the number of moles of the ammonium phosphate compound and the number of moles of CaHPO 4 .

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the ammonium phosphate compound is diammonium phosphate.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the diammonium phosphate is present in the combined ingredients in an amount from about 5 to about 20 mole percent based on the sum of the number of moles of the diammonium phosphate and the number of moles of CaHPO 4 .

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the diammonium phosphate is present in the combined ingredients in an amount of about 10 mole percent based on the sum of the number of moles of the diammonium phosphate and the number of moles of CaHPO 4 .

15. The method of claim 11 wherein 0.020<x<0.025, 0.0045<y<0.0075, and 0.04<z<0.08.