Phosphor for light emitting device and method for manufacturing the same, and light emitting device using the same

1. A phosphor for a light emitting device which has an LED chip emitting ultraviolet to blue light, comprising:

a phosphor particle composed of an europium and manganese-activated alkaline earth silicate phosphor emitting green to yellow light, the europium and manganese-activated alkaline earth silicate phosphor having a composition represented by a general formula:

(Sr 2-x-y-z-u Ba x Mg y Eu z Mn u )SiO 4

wherein x is a numeral (atomic ratio) satisfying 0.1≦x≦1.69,

y is a numeral (atomic ratio) satisfying 0.01≦y≦0.05,

z is a numeral (atomic ratio) satisfying 0.025≦z≦0.25, and

u is a numeral (atomic ratio) satisfying 0.001≦u≦0.01; and

a surface treatment agent of at least one selected from a silane coupling agent and an acrylic emulsion, the surface treatment agent being provided to cover a surface of the phosphor particle,

wherein a luminance maintenance ratio is 98% or more, wherein the luminance maintenance ratio is represented by a formula:

luminance B /luminance A× 100(%),

the luminance A is an initial luminance obtained by making the phosphor emit under a condition of a temperature of 23° C. and a humidity of 40%, and the luminance B is a luminance obtained by making the phosphor emit under a condition of a temperature of 23° C. and a humidity of 40% after leaving the phosphor under a condition of a temperature of 60° C. and a humidity of 90% for 12 hours.

2. The phosphor according to claim 1 ,

wherein the surface treatment agent is at least one selected from an epoxy group-containing silane coupling agent and an amino group-containing silane coupling agent.

3. The phosphor according to claim 2 ,

wherein the silane coupling agent is at least one selected from N-2-(aminoethyl)-3-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, N-2-(aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, N-2-(aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropylmethyldimethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropylmethyldiethoxysilane, and 3-glycidoxypropyltriethoxysilane.

4. The phosphor according to claim 1 ,

wherein the surface treatment agent is an alkalescent acrylic emulsion.

5. A light emitting device comprising:

an LED chip emitting ultraviolet to blue light; and

a phosphor layer containing a phosphor which absorbs the ultraviolet to blue light emitted from the LED chip and emits visible light,

wherein the phosphor layer contains the phosphor according to claim 1 .

6. The light emitting device according to claim 5 ,

wherein a luminance maintenance ratio is 95% or more, wherein the luminance maintenance ratio is represented by a formula:

luminance D /luminance C× 100(%),

the luminance C is an initial luminance obtained by making the light emitting device emit under a condition of a temperature of 23° C. and a humidity of 40%, and the luminance D is a luminance after making the light emitting device emit under a condition of a temperature of 60° C. and a humidity of 90% for 1000 hours.

7. The light emitting device according to claim 5 ,

wherein the LED chip emits blue light whose peak wavelength is in a range of from 445 to 455 nm;

wherein the phosphor layer contains a green to yellow phosphor having a phosphor particle composed of an alkaline earth silicate phosphor and a red phosphor, and is excited by the blue light emitted from the LED chip to emit green to yellow light and red light by; and

wherein white light is obtained by color mixture of the blue light emitted from the LED chip, the green to yellow light and the red light emitted from the phosphor layer.

8. The light emitting device according to claim 5 ,

wherein the LED chip emits ultraviolet to violet light having peak wavelength in a range of from 360 to 440 nm;

wherein the phosphor layer contains a blue phosphor, a green phosphor, and a red phosphor, and is emitted by the ultraviolet to violet light emitted from the LED chip to emit white light.

9. A method for manufacturing a phosphor for a light emitting device which has an LED chip emitting ultraviolet to blue light, comprising:

feeding a surface treatment agent of a silane coupling agent into a phosphor dispersion liquid containing a phosphor particle composed of an alkaline earth silicate phosphor while keeping a temperature of the phosphor dispersion liquid at 25 to 70° C. or feeding a surface treatment agent of an acrylic emulsion into the phosphor dispersion liquid while keeping the temperature at 25 to 40° C.;

stirring and mixing the phosphor dispersion liquid into which the surface treatment agent has been fed for 30 to 120 minutes;

filtrating the phosphor dispersion liquid to separate the phosphor particle having been treated with the surface treatment agent; and

drying the separated phosphor particle.

10. The manufacturing according to claim 9 ,

wherein the silane coupling agent is fed in a range of from 0.1 to 40 mass % in relation to the phosphor particle.

11. The manufacturing method according to claim 9 ,

wherein the acrylic emulsion is fed in a range of from 0.05 to 5 mass % in relation to the phosphor particle.