Oxycarbidonitride based phosphors and LED lighting devices

1. A red phosphor, comprising:

an inorganic compound represented by formula (2)

(Ca a Sr b )AlSiN u C x O w :z A  (2)

wherein A is at least one luminescence activator; wherein 0≦a≦1; wherein 0≦b≦1; wherein (a+b)≦1; wherein u={3−(4x/3)−(2w/3)}; wherein w=(3z/2); 0<x≦2; wherein 0<(x+w)<3; wherein x≠w; and, wherein 0<z≦0.5.

2. The red phosphor of claim 1 , wherein A is Eu 2+ .

3. The red phosphor of claim 2 , wherein 0.001<z≦0.01.

4. The red phosphor of claim 3 , wherein 0.2≦x≦1.

5. The red phosphor of claim 3 , wherein 0.7≦b≦0.9.

6. The red phosphor of claim 1 , wherein the red phosphor exhibits an emission spectra having a peak wavelength, Pλ phosphor , between 600 nm and 660 nm upon excitation from a light source exhibiting an emission spectra having a peak wavelength, Pλ source , between 200 nm and 600 nm.

7. The red phosphor of claim 1 , further comprising a surface treatment; wherein the surface treatment is applied to a surface of the inorganic compound.

8. A phosphor composition, comprising: a red phosphor according to claim 1 ; and, a liquid carrier; wherein the red phosphor is dispersed in the liquid carrier.

9. A lighting apparatus for emitting white light comprising:

a light source, wherein the light source produces light having a source luminescence spectrum; and,

a first source luminescence spectrum modifier, wherein the first source luminescence spectrum modifier is a red phosphor according to claim 1 ;

wherein the red phosphor is radiationally coupled to the light source.

10. The lighting apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the source luminescence spectrum has a peak wavelength, Pλ source , between 200 and 600 nm; and, wherein, upon excitation of the red phosphor by exposure to the light produced by the light source, the red phosphor exhibits an emission spectrum having a peak wavelength, Pλ phosphor , between 600 and 660 nm.