Phosphors and method for producing thereof

1. An oxynitride phosphor which is activated by a divalent europium and which is represented by the following formula (1):

(M 1-x Eu x )Al a Si b O c N d C e   (1)

in which M is an alkaline earth metal; and x, a, b, c, d and e are numbers satisfying the conditions of 0≦x≦0.2, 1.3≦a≦1.8, 3.5≦b≦4, 0.1≦c≦0.3, 6.7≦d≦7.2 and 0.01≦e≦0.1, respectively, and

which contains a component whose XRD profile measured by use of a specific X-ray of CuKα shows diffraction peaks simultaneously at seven or more positions selected from the group consisting of the following eleven positions: 15.0 to 15.25°, 23.1 to 23.20°, 24.85 to 25.05°, 26.95 to 27.15°, 29.3 to 29.6°, 30.9 to 31.1°, 31.6 to 31.8°, 33.0 to 33.20°, 35.25 to 35.45°, 36.1 to 36.25° and 56.4 to 56.65°, in terms of the diffraction angle (2θ).

2. The oxynitride phosphor according to claim 1 , wherein strontium is contained as the alkaline earth metal M.

3. The oxynitride phosphor according to claim 1 , which emits luminescence having a peak at a wavelength of not shorter than 630 nm and not greater than 651 nm under excitation by light in the wavelength range of 330 to 470 nm.

4. A method for producing an oxynitride phosphor, comprising:

a first step, in which an alkaline earth metal oxide or hydroxide, europium oxide and silicon powder or silicon nitride are mixed and fired in an atmosphere containing hydrogen and nitrogen, to form a first intermediate product;

a second step, in which the first intermediate product and carbon powder are mixed and fired in an atmosphere containing hydrogen and nitrogen, to form a second intermediate product; and

a third step, in which the second intermediate product is mixed with, at least, silicon powder or silicon nitride and aluminum nitride, and then fired in an atmosphere containing hydrogen and nitrogen to produce an oxynitride phosphor which is activated by a divalent europium and which is represented by the following formula (1):

(M 1-x Eu x )Al a Si b O c N d C e   (1)

in which M is an alkaline earth metal; and x, a, b, c, d and e are numbers satisfying the conditions of 0≦x≦0.2, 1.3≦a≦1.8, 3.5≦b≦4, 0.1≦c≦0.3, 6.7≦d≦7.2 and 0.01≦e≦0.1, respectively, and

which contains a component whose XRD profile measured by use of a specific X-ray of CuKα shows diffraction peaks simultaneously at seven or more positions selected from the group consisting of the following eleven positions: 15.0 to 15.25°, 23.1 to 23.20°, 24.85 to 25.05°, 26.95 to 27.15°, 29.3 to 29.6°, 30.9 to 31.1°, 31.6 to 31.8°, 33.0 to 33.20°, 35.25 to 35.45°, 36.1 to 36.25° and 56.4 to 56.65°, in terms of the diffraction angle (2θ).

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the alkaline earth metal includes strontium.

6. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the first intermediate product contains oxygen in a ratio by mole of less than 1.0 based on the sum of alkaline earth metal and europium contained therein.

7. The method according to claim 4 , wherein firing temperature in the first step is in the range of 1300 to 1600° C.

8. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the amount of the carbon powder to mix in the second step is 1.0 to 2.0 times as much as the sum of the alkaline earth metal and europium in terms of the ratio by mole.

9. The method according to claim 4 , wherein firing temperature in the second step is in the range of 1300 to 1600° C.

10. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the silicon powder has a mean particle size ranging from not less than 5 μM to less than 150 μm.

11. The method according to claim 4 , wherein firing temperature in the third step is 1500° C. or more.

12. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the oxynitride phosphor obtained by the third step is further fired in a pressurized nitrogen atmosphere.

13. A light-emitting device comprising the oxynitride phosphor according to claim 1 and a light-emitting element capable of exciting said phosphor.