Granted Patent B2

US 8,593,062 · App. 13/080,099 · Granted Nov 26, 2013

Abstract

Claims (46)

1. A color stable phosphor composition comprising particles of a phosphor of formula I, said particles having a coating composition disposed on surfaces thereof;

((Sr 1-z M z ) 1-(x+w) A w Ce x ) 3 (Al 1-y Si y )O 4+y+3(x−w) F 1-y-3(x−w)   I

wherein

the coating composition comprises a material selected from aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, barium oxide, strontium oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, strontium hydroxide, zinc hydroxide, aluminum phosphate, magnesium phosphate, calcium phosphate, barium phosphate, strontium phosphate, and combinations thereof;

A is Li, Na, K, or Rb, or a combination thereof;

M is Ca, Ba, Mg, Zn, or a combination thereof; and

0<x≦0.10, 0≦y≦0.5, 0≦z≦0.5, 0≦w≦x.

2. A color stable phosphor according to claim 1 , wherein the coating composition comprises aluminum oxide, aluminum hydroxide, or a combination thereof.

3. A color stable phosphor according to claim 1 , wherein the coating composition comprises magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, or a combination thereof.

4. A color stable phosphor according to claim 1 , wherein the coating composition comprises boron nitride, boron oxide, or a combination thereof.

5. A color stable phosphor according to claim 1 , wherein the coating composition comprises aluminum phosphate.

6. A color stable phosphor according to claim 1 , wherein the coating composition comprises magnesium phosphate.

7. A coated phosphor according to claim 1 , wherein the phosphor of formula I is ((Sr 1-z M z ) 1-2x A x Ce x ) 3 AlO 4 F.

8. A coated phosphor according to claim 1 , wherein the phosphor of formula I is ((Sr 1-z M z ) 1-x Ce x ) 3 (Al 1-y Si y )O 4+y+3 F 1-y-3x .

9. A coated phosphor according to claim 1 , wherein the phosphor of formula I is (Sr 0.98 Na 0.01 Ce 0.01 ) 3 AlO 4 F; (Sr 0.98 ,Na 0.01 Ce 0.01 )(Al 0.9 Si 0.1 )O 4.1 F 0.9 ; (Sr 0.98 ,Na 0.01 Ce 0.01 )(Al 0.8 Si 0.2 )O 4.2 F 0.8 ; (Sr 0.75 Ca 0.23 Na 0.01 Ce 0.01 )(Al 0.75 Si 0.25 )O 4.25 F 0.75 , (Sr 0.595 Ca 0.4 Ce 0.005 )(Al 0.6 Si 0.4 )O 4.415 F 0.585 , or a combination thereof.

10. A color stable phosphor according to claim 1 , wherein the phosphor of formula I is (Sr 0.895 Ca 0.1 Ce 0.005 ) 3 Al 0.6 Si 0.4 O 4.415 F 0.585 ).

11. A method for preparing a color stable phosphor, said method comprising contacting a phosphor of formula I in particulate form with a coating precursor at an acidic or basic pH in a solvent comprising water;

((Sr 1-z M z ) 1-(x+w) A w Ce x ) 3 (Al 1-y Si y )O 4+y+3(x−w) F 1-y-3(x−w)   I

wherein

the coating precursor is selected from tetraalkylothosilicates, fumed silica, alkali metal silicates, phosphates of formula R n (PO 4 ) m , and combinations thereof;

A is Li, Na, K, or Rb, or a combination thereof;

M is Ca, Ba, Mg, Zn, or a combination thereof;

0<x≦0.10, 0≦y≦0.5, 0≦z≦0.5, 0≦w≦x;

R is hydrogen, NH 4 , Li, Na, K, Rb, or a combination thereof;

with the proviso that when the coating precursor is fumed silica, pH is less than or equal to about 4.

12. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the coating precursor is tetraethylothosilicate or NaSiO 3 .

13. A method according to claim 11 , wherein pH is less than or equal to about 5 or greater than or equal to about 9.

14. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the solvent additionally comprises at least one alcoholic solvent selected from methanol, ethanol, propanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or a combination thereof.

15. A method according to claim 11 , wherein a temperature at which the phosphor of formula I is contacted with the coating precursor is less than about 30° C.

16. A color stable phosphor produced according to the method of claim 11 .

17. An LED lamp comprising:

a light source configured to emit radiation with a peak intensity at a wavelength between about 250 nm and about 550 nm; and

a phosphor composition configured to be radiationally coupled to the light source, and comprising particles of a phosphor of formula I, said particles having a coating composition disposed on surfaces thereof;

((Sr 1-z M z ) 1-(x+w) A w Ce x ) 3 (Al 1-y Si y )O 4+y+3(x−w) F 1-y-3(x−w)   I

wherein

the coating composition comprises aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, barium oxide, strontium oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, strontium hydroxide, zinc hydroxide, aluminum phosphate, magnesium phosphate, calcium phosphate, strontium phosphate, barium phosphate, silica-containing material derived from a precursor selected from tetraalkylothosilicates, fumed silica, alkali metal silicates, or a combination thereof; and

A is NH 4 , Li, Na, K, or Rb, or a combination thereof;

M is Ca, Ba, Mg, Zn, or a combination thereof; and

0<x≦0.10, 0≦y≦0.5, 0≦z≦0.5, 0≦w≦x.

18. An LED lamp according to claim 17 , wherein the phosphor composition comprises one or more additional phosphors.

19. An LED lamp according to claim 17 , wherein the coating composition comprises aluminum oxide, aluminum hydroxide, or a combination thereof.

20. An LED lamp according to claim 17 , wherein the coating composition comprises magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, or a combination thereof.

21. An LED lamp according to claim 17 , wherein the coating composition comprises boron nitride, boron oxide, or a combination thereof.

22. An LED lamp according to claim 17 , wherein the coating composition comprises aluminum phosphate.

23. An LED lamp according to claim 17 , wherein the coating composition comprises magnesium phosphate.

24. An LED lamp according to claim 17 , wherein the coating precursor is tetraethylothosilicate or NaSiO 3 .

Assignments (12)