Phosphor and Light-Emitting Device Using Same

Abstract

A novel phosphor capable of exhibiting strong light emissions over a wide excitation wavelength range and a light-emitting device using such a phosphor are provided. Said phosphor is characterized by the fact that it contains a metal oxide containing at least one alkaline earth element selected from the group composed of Ca, Sr, and Ba, at least one element selected from the group composed of Be, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Mg, and Sn, at least one element selected from the group composed of B, Al, Ga, and In, and at least one element selected from the group composed of P and V, in which at least one element selected from the group composed of Ce, Pr, Sm, Nd, Gd, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Tm, Er, Yb, and Mn is contained as an added activator.

1 . A phosphor comprising a metal oxide comprising: 
 at least one alkaline earth element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba;    at least one element selected from the group consisting of Be, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Mg, and Sn;    at least one element selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, and In;    at least one element selected from the group consisting of P and V; and    at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ce, Pr, Sm, Nd, Gd, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Tm, Er, Yb, and Mn as an added activator.    
   
   
       2 . A phosphor represented by the following composition formula:  
       ( a−x )M1O. b M2O. c M3O 1.5   .d M4O 2.5   :x LnO  wherein    M1 represents at least one alkaline earth element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba,    M2 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Be, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Mg, and Sn,    M3 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, and In,    M4 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of P and V,    Ln represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ce, Pr, Sm, Nd, Gd, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Tm, Er, Yb, and Mn, and    the letters x, a, b, c, and d represent numbers that each satisfy the following conditions: 0<x≦0.5, 1≦a≦3, 0≦b≦4, 0≦c≦9, and 2≦d≦9.    
   
   
       3 . A phosphor represented by the following composition formula:  
       ( a−x )M1O. b M2O. c M3O 1.5   .d M4O 2.5   :x LnO  wherein    M1 represents at least one alkaline earth element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba,    M2 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Be, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Mg, and Sn,    M3 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, and In,    M4 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of P and V,    Ln represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ce, Pr, Sm, Nd, Gd, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Tm, Er, Yb, and Mn, and    the letters x, a, b, c, and d represent numbers that each satisfy the following conditions: 0<x≦ 0 . 5 ,  1 ≦a≦3, 0≦b≦4, 0≦c≦9, and 2≦d≦9.    
   
   
       4 . The phosphor in accordance with  claim 1 , capable of being excited by ultraviolet light or vacuum ultraviolet light.  
   
   
       5 . A light-emitting device comprising the phosphor of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . A phosphor represented by the following composition formula:  
       ( a−x )M1O. b M2O. c M3O 1.5   .d M4O 2.5   :x LnO  wherein    M1 represents at least one alkaline earth element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba,    M2 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Be, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Mg, and Sn,    M3 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, and In,    M4 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of P and V,    Ln represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ce, Pr, Sm, Nd, Gd, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Tm, Er, Yb, and Mn, and    the letters x, a, b, c, and d represent numbers that each satisfy the following conditions: 0≦x≦0.5, 1a≦3, 0≦b≦4, 0≦c≦9, and 2≦d≦9.    
   
   
       8 . The phosphor in accordance with  claim 2 , capable of being excited by ultraviolet light or vacuum ultraviolet light.  
   
   
       9 . The phosphor in accordance with  claim 3 , capable of being excited by ultraviolet light or vacuum ultraviolet light.  
   
   
       10 . The phosphor in accordance with  claim 7 , capable of being excited by ultraviolet light or vacuum ultraviolet light.  
   
   
       11 . A light-emitting device comprising the phosphor of  claim 2 .  
   
   
       12 . A light-emitting device comprising the phosphor of  claim 3 .  
   
   
       13 . A light-emitting device comprising the phosphor of  claim 7 .  
   
   
       14 . A light-emitting device comprising the phosphor of  claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting device is capable of being excited by ultraviolet light or vacuum ultraviolet light.  
   
   
       15 . A light-emitting device comprising the phosphor of  claim 2 , wherein the light-emitting device is capable of being excited by ultraviolet light or vacuum ultraviolet light.  
   
   
       16 . A light-emitting device comprising the phosphor of  claim 3 , wherein the light-emitting device is capable of being excited by ultraviolet light or vacuum ultraviolet light.  
   
   
       17 . A light-emitting device comprising the phosphor of  claim 7 , wherein the light-emitting device is capable of being excited by ultraviolet light or vacuum ultraviolet light.