Inorganic luminescent phosphor materials for lighting
A light emitting device comprising a light producing element configured to generate ultraviolet light having a wavelength of from about 250 nm to about 400 nm and a self-activating phosphor comprising an ordered oxyfluoride compound is provided. The nitrogen-free or nitrogen-containing ordered oxyfluoride compound has a formula: A 3-3a/2 R a MO 4-δ1-w′ F 1-δ2-w —N w where A is Sr alone or Sr mixed with Ba and/or Ca such that A comprises at least about ⅔ mole % of Sr and up to about ⅓ mole percent of Ba and/or Ca; R is a rare earth element or a mixture of rare earth elements; M is Al, Ga, In, W, Mo, Bi, or mixtures thereof; 0<a≦0.3; δ1 and δ2 are both from about 0.01 to about 0.1; and 0≦w≦0.05 such that 0≦w′≦0.1 and 0≦w″≦0.15. The ultraviolet light excites the self-activating phosphor such that the self-activating phosphor emits visible light having a wavelength of from about 380 to about 750 nm.
1. A light emitting device comprising
a light producing element configured to generate ultraviolet light having a wavelength of from about 250 nm to about 400 nm; and
a self-activating phosphor comprising an ordered nitrogen-containing or nitrogen-free oxyfluoride compound having a formula:
A 3-3a/2 R a MO 4-δ1-w′ F 1-δ2-w″ N w
where A is Sr alone or Sr mixed with Ba and/or Ca such that A comprises at least about ⅔ mole % of Sr and up to about ⅓ mole percent of Ba and/or Ca; R is a rare earth element or a mixture of rare earth elements; M is Al, Ga, In, W, Mo, Bi, or mixtures thereof; 0<a<0.3; δ1 and δ2 are both from about 0.01 to about 0.1; and 0≦w≦0.05 such that 0≦w′≦0.1 and 0≦w″≦0.15; wherein the ultraviolet light excites the self-activating phosphor such that the self-activating phosphor emits visible light having a wavelength of from about 380 to about 750 nm.
2. The light emitting device as in claim 1 , wherein δ1 and δ2 are both about 0.05.
3. The light emitting device as in claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet light that excites the self-activating phosphor has a wavelength of from about 350 nm to about 400 nm.
4. The light emitting device as in claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet light that excites the self-activating phosphor has a wavelength of about 260 nm.
5. The light emitting device as in claim 1 , wherein the light producing element comprises a Hg plasma lamp.
6. The light emitting device as in claim 1 , wherein the rare earth element comprises europium.
7. The light emitting device as in claim 1 , wherein M represents Al, Ga, or a mixture thereof from about 90 mole % to about 100 mole % combined with from about 0 mole % to about 10 mole % of In, W, Mo, Bi, or a mixture thereof.
8. The light emitting device as in claim 1 , wherein R comprises a mixture of cerium and gadolinium.
9. A light emitting device comprising
a light producing element configured to generate ultraviolet light having a wavelength of from about 250 nm to about 400 nm; and
a self-activating phosphor comprising an ordered nitrogen-free or nitrogen-containing oxyfluoride compound having a formula:
A 3-3a/2 R a M 1-c In c O 4-δ1-w′ F 1-δ2-w″ N w
where A is Sr alone or Sr mixed with Ba and/or Ca such that A comprises at least about ⅔ mole % of Sr and up to about ⅓ mole percent of Ba and/or Ca; R is a rare earth element or a mixture of rare earth elements; M is Al, Ga, W, Mo, Bi, or mixtures thereof; 0<a≦0.3; 0<c≦0.2; δ1 and δ2 are both from about 0.01 to about 0.1; and 0≦w≦0.05 such that 0≦w′≦0.1 and 0≦w″≦0.15, wherein the ultraviolet light excites the self-activating phosphor such that the self-activating phosphor emits visible light having a wavelength of from about 380 to about 750 nm.
10. The light emitting device as in claim 9 , wherein δ1 and δ2 are both about 0.05.
11. The light emitting device as in claim 9 , wherein the ultraviolet light that excites the self-activating phosphor has a wavelength of from about 350 nm to about 400 nm.
12. The light emitting device as in claim 9 , wherein the ultraviolet light that excites the self-activating phosphor has a wavelength of about 260 nm.
13. The light emitting device as in claim 9 , wherein the light producing element comprises a Hg plasma lamp.
14. The light emitting device as in claim 9 , wherein the rare earth element comprises europium.
15. The light emitting device as in claim 9 , wherein M represents Al, Ga, or a mixture thereof from about 90 mole % to about 100 mole % combined with from about 0 mole % to about 10 mole % of W, Mo, Bi, or a mixture thereof.