Light-converting material
The present invention relates to light-converting materials which comprise semiconductor nanoparticles and an unactivated crystalline material, where the semiconductor nanoparticles are located on the surface of the unactivated crystalline material. The present invention furthermore relates to the use of the light-converting material in a light source. The present invention furthermore relates to a light-converting mixture, to a light source, to a lighting unit which contains the light-converting material according to the invention, and to a process for the production of the light source.
1. A light-converting material comprising semiconductor nanoparticles and an unactivated crystalline material, where the semiconductor nanoparticles are located on the surface of the unactivated crystalline material,
where the unactivated crystalline material is a matrix material of an inorganic phosphor selected from the list consisting of: unactivated crystalline phosphates and halophosphates, unactivated crystalline borates and borosilicates, unactivated crystalline aluminates, gallates and alumosilicates, unactivated crystalline molybdates and tungstates, unactivated crystalline sulfides, selenides and tellurides, unactivated crystalline nitrides and oxynitrides, unactivated crystalline SiAlONs and other unactivated crystalline materials selected from unactivated crystalline complex metal-oxygen compounds, unactivated crystalline oxysulfides or oxychlorides and unactivated crystalline silicates or halosilicates selected from the list consisting of M 2+ SiO 3 , M 2+ 2 SiO 4 , M 2+ 2 (Si,Ge)O 4 , M 2+ 3 SiO 5 , M 3+ 2 SiO 5 , M 3+ M + SiO 4 , M 2+ Si 2 O 5 , M 2+ 2 Si 2 O 6 , M 2+ 3 Si 2 O 7 , M 2+ 2 M + 2 Si 2 O 7 , M 3+ 2 Si 2 O 7 , M 2+ 4 Si 2 O 8 , M 2+ 2 Si 3 O 8 , M 2+ 3 M 3+ 2 Si 3 O 12 , M + M 3+ M 2+ 4 Si 4 O 10 , M + M 2+ 4 M 3+ Si 4 O 14 , M 2+ 3 M 3+ 2 Si 6 O 18 , M 3+ SiO 3 X, M 2+ 3 SiO 4 X 2 , M 2+ 5 SiO 4 X 6 , M + 2 M 2+ 2 Si 4 O 10 X 2 , M 2 + 5 Si 4 O 10 X 6 , M + 2 SiX 6 , M 2+ 3 SiO 3 X 4 and M 2+ 9 (SiO 4 ) 4 X 2 ; where M + is one or more alkali metals; M 2+ is Zn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cd, Cu and/or one or more alkaline-earth metals; M 3+ is Al, Sc, Y, La and/or one or more rare-earth metals selected from Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu; and X is one or more halogens.
2. A light-converting material according to claim 1 , wherein the unactivated crystalline material is an unactivated crystalline silicate or halosilicate, as defined in claim 1 .
3. A light-converting material according to claim 2 , wherein the alkali metals are Li, Na and/or K; the alkaline-earth metals are Be, Mg, Ca, Sr and/or Ba; and the halogens are F, Cl, Br and/or I.
4. A light-converting material according to claim 1 , wherein the unactivated crystalline material is an unactivated crystalline phosphate or halophosphate selected from the list consisting of M 3+ PO 4 , M 2+ P 2 O 6 , M 2+ 2 P 2 O 7 , M + 2 M 2+ P 2 O 7 , M 4+ P 2 O 7 , M 2+ B 2 P 2 O 9 , M 2+ 6 BP 5 O 20 , M 2+ 3 (PO 4 ) 2 , M + 3 M 3+ (PO 4 ) 2 , M 2+ 6 (PO 4 ) 4 and M 2+ 5 (PO 4 ) 3 X; where M + is one or more alkali metals; M 2+ is Zn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cd, Cu and/or one or more alkaline-earth metals; M 3+ is Al, Sc, Y, La and/or one or more rare-earth metals selected from Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu; M 4+ is Ti, Zr, Ge and/or Sn; and X is one or more halogens.
5. A light-converting material according to claim 4 , wherein the alkali metals are Li, Na and/or K; the alkaline-earth metals are Be, Mg, Ca, Sr and/or Ba; and the halogens are F, Cl, Br and/or I.
6. A light-converting material according to claim 1 , wherein the unactivated crystalline material is an unactivated crystalline borate or borosilicate selected from the list consisting of M 3+ BO 3 , M 2+ B 2 O 4 , M 2+ 2 B 2 O 5 , M 3+ 2 B 2 O 6 , M 3+ B 3 O 6 , M 2+ B 6 O 10 , M 2+ M 3+ BO 4 , M 2+ M 3+ B 3 O 7 , M 2+ B 4 O 7 , M 2+ 3 M 3+ 2 B 4 O 12 , M 3+ 4 B 4 O 12 , M 3+ M 2+ B 5 O 10 , M 2+ 2 B 6 O 11 , M 2+ B 8 O 13 , M 2+ 2 M 3+ 2 BO 6.5 , M 2+ 5 B 2 SiO 10 ; where M 2+ is Zn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cd, Cu and/or one or more alkaline-earth metals; M 3+ is Al, Ga, In, Sc, Y, La and/or one or more rare-earth metals selected from Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu.
7. A light-converting material according to claim 6 , wherein the alkaline earth-metals are Be, Mg, Ca, Sr and/or Ba.
8. A light-converting material according to claim 1 , wherein the unactivated crystalline material is an unactivated crystalline aluminate, gallate or alumosilicate selected from the list consisting of M + AlO 2 , M 3+ AlO 3 , M 2+ M 3+ AlO 4 , M 2+ Al 2 O 4 , M 2+ Al 4 O 7 , M + Al 5 O 8 , M 3+ 4 Al 2 O 9 , M 3+ 3 Al 5 O 12 , M+Al 11 O 17 , M 2+ 2 Al 10 O 17 , M 3+ 3 Al 5 O 12 , M 3+ 3 (Al,Ga) 5 O 12 , M 3+ 3 Sc 2 Al 3 O 12 , M 2+ 2 Al 6 O 11 , M 2+ Al 8 O 13 , M 2+ M 3+ Al 11 O 19 , M 2+ Al 12 O 19 , M 2+ 4 Al 14 O 25 , M 2+ 3 Al 16 O 27 , M 2+ Ga 2 O 4 , M 2+ Ga 4 O 7 , M 3+ 3 Ga 5 O 12 , M + Ga 11 O 17 , M 2+ Ga 12 O 19 , M + 2 M 2+ 3 Al 2 Si 2 O 10 and M 2+ 3 Al 2 Si 3 O 12 ; where M + is one or more alkali metals; M 2+ is Zn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cd, Cu and/or one or more alkaline-earth metals; M 3+ is Al, Sc, Y, La and/or one or more rare-earth metals selected from Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu; and X is one or more halogens.
9. A light-converting material according to claim 8 , wherein the alkali metals are Li, Na and/or K; the alkaline-earth metals are Be, Mg, Ca, Sr and/or Ba; and the halogens are F, Cl, Br and/or I.
10. A light-converting material according to claim 1 , wherein the unactivated crystalline material is an unactivated crystalline molybdate or tungstate selected from the list consisting of M 2+ MoO 4 , M + M 3+ Mo 2 O 8 , M 2+ WO 4 , M 2+ 3 WO 6 , M 3+ 2 W 3 O 12 , M + M 3+ W 2 O 8 ; where M + is one or more alkali metals; M 2+ is Zn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cd, Cu and/or one or more alkaline-earth metals; M 3+ is Al, Sc, Y, La and/or one or more rare-earth metals selected from Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu; and X is one or more halogens.
11. A light-converting material according to claim 10 , wherein the alkali metals are Li, Na and/or K; the alkaline-earth metals are Be, Mg, Ca, Sr and/or Ba; and the halogens are F, Cl, Br and/or I.
12. A light-converting material according to claim 1 , wherein the unactivated crystalline material is an unactivated crystalline complex metal-oxygen compound is selected from the list consisting of M 3+ AsO 4 , M 2+ 13 As 2 O 18 , M 2+ GeO 3 , M 2+ 2 GeO 4 , M 2+ 4 GeO 6 , M 2+ 4 (Ge,Sn)O 6 , M 2+ 2 Ge 2 O 6 , M 3+ 4 Ge 3 O 12 , M 2+ 5 GeO 4 X 6 , M 2+ 8 Ge 2 O 11 X 2 , M + InO 2 , M 2+ In 2 O 4 , M + LaO 2 , M 2+ La 4 O 7 , M 3+ NbO 4 , M 2+ Sc 2 O 4 , M 2+ 2 SnO 4 , M 3+ TaO 4 , M 2+ TiO 3 , M 2+ 2 TiO 4 , M + 2 M 3+ 2 Ti 3 O 10 , M 2+ 5 (VO 4 ) 3 X, M 3+ VO 4 , M 3+ (V,P)O 4 , M + YO 2 , M 2+ ZrO 3 , M 2+ 2 ZrO 4 and M 2+ M 3+ 2 ZrO 6 ; where M + is one or more alkali metals; M 2+ is Zn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cd, Cu and/or one or more alkaline-earth metals; M 3+ is Al, Sc, Y, La, Bi and/or one or more rare-earth metals selected from Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu; M 4+ is Ti, Zr, Ge and/or Sn; and X is one or more halogens.
13. A light-converting material according to claim 12 , wherein the alkali metals are Li, Na and/or K; the alkaline-earth metals are Be, Mg, Ca, Sr and/or Ba; and the halogens are F, Cl, Br and/or I.
14. A light-converting material according to claim 1 , wherein the unactivated crystalline material is an unactivated crystalline sulfide, selenide or telluride selected from the list consisting of M 2+ S, M 2+ (S,Te), M 2+ Se, M 2+ Te, M 2+ Ga 2 S 4 , M 2+ Ba 2 S 3 and M 2+ Al 2 S 4 ; where M 2+ is Zn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cd, Cu and/or one or more alkaline-earth metals.
15. A light-converting material according to claim 14 , wherein the alkaline-earth metals are Be, Mg, Ca, Sr and/or Ba.
16. A light-converting material according to claim 1 , wherein the unactivated crystalline material is an unactivated crystalline oxysulfide or oxychloride compound selected from the list consisting of M 3+ OCl and M 3+ 2 O 2 S; where M 3+ is Al, Sc, Y, La, and/or one or more rare-earth metals selected from Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu.
17. A light-converting material according to claim 1 , wherein the unactivated crystalline material is an unactivated crystalline nitride, oxynitride or SiAlON selected from the list consisting of M 3+ N, M 2+ Si 2 O 2 N 2 , M 2+ 2 Si 5 N 8 , M 3+ 3 Si 6 N 11 , M 2+ AlSiN 3 , α-sialons and β-sialons; where M 2+ is Zn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cd, Cu and/or one or more alkaline-earth metals; and M 3+ is Al, Ga, Sc, Y, La and/or one or more rare-earth metals selected from Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu.
18. A light-converting material according to claim 17 , wherein the alkaline-earth metals are Be, Mg, Ca, Sr and/or Ba.
19. A light-converting material according to claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor nanoparticles consist of at least two different semiconductor materials in an alloy, in a core/shell configuration or in a core/multishell configuration having at least two shells, where the core comprises either a semiconductor material or an alloy of at least two different semiconductor materials and the shell(s) comprise(s) independently a semiconductor material or an alloy of at least two different semiconductor materials.
20. A light-converting material according to claim 19 , wherein a concentration gradient is present within the core and/or the shell(s) and/or between the core and/or the shell(s).
21. A light-converting material according to claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor materials are selected from group II-VI semiconductors, group III-V semiconductors, group IV-VI semiconductors, group I-III-VI 2 semiconductors and from alloys and/or combinations of these semiconductors.
22. A light-converting material according to claim 21 , wherein the semiconductor materials are doped with one or more transition metals.
23. A light-converting material according to claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor nanoparticles are in the form of nanodots, nanorods, nanoflakes, nanotetrapods, nanodots in nanorods, nanorods in nanorods and/or nanodots in nanoflakes.
24. A light-converting material according to claim 1 , wherein the surface of the light-converting material is coated with one or more coating materials.
25. A light-converting mixture comprising one or more of the light-converting materials according to claim 1 .
26. A method for the partial or complete conversion of ultraviolet and/or blue light into light having a longer wavelength, comprising passing the light through a light-converting material of claim 1 .
27. Light source containing at least one primary light source and at least one light-converting material according to claim 1 .
28. Light source according to claim 27 , wherein the light-converting material is arranged directly on the primary light source or is arranged on a support material remote from the primary light source.
29. A process for the production of a light source according to claim 27 , where the light-converting material is applied to the primary light source or the support material in the form of a film by spin coating or spray coating or in the form of a film as laminate.
30. A lighting unit containing at least one light source according to claim 27 .