Phosphor for electron beam excitation and color display device using the same

Abstract

A phosphor, which has less reduction in emission efficiency and is capable of keeping high luminance even when density of an electron beam for exciting the phosphor increases, is provided. As raw materials, Ca 3 N 2 (2N), AlN (3N), Si 3 N 4 (3N), and Eu 2 O 3 (3N) are prepared, and each of the raw materials is weighed so that a mole ratio of each element is, for example, (Ca+Eu):Al:Si=1:1:1, and mixed, then the mixture is held and fired at 1500° C. under the inert atmosphere for three hours, and thereafter ground to produce a phosphor having a composition formula of Ca 0.985 SiAlN 3 :Eu 0.015 .

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A phosphor for electron beam excitation expressed by a composition formula of MmAaBbOoNn:Z (where an element M is one or more bivalent elements, an element A is one or more trivalent elements, an element B is one or more tetravalent elements, O is oxygen, N is nitrogen, an element Z is an activator, and where values of m=a=b=1, o≧0, and n=2/3m+a+4/3b−2/3o). 
     
     
       2. The phosphor for electron beam excitation according to  claim 1 , wherein the element M is one or more elements selected from Mg (magnesium), Ca (calcium), Sr (strontium), Ba (barium) and Zn (zinc), the element A is one or more elements selected from B (boron), Al (aluminum) and Ga (gallium), the element B is Si (silicon) and/or Ge (germanium), and the element Z is one or more elements selected from rare earth or transition metals. 
     
     
       3. The phosphor for electron beam excitation according to  claim 1 , wherein the element A is Al (aluminum), and the element B is Si (silicon). 
     
     
       4. The phosphor for electron beam excitation according to  claim 1 , wherein the element M is Ca (calcium) and the element Z is Eu (europium). 
     
     
       5. The phosphor for electron beam excitation according to  claim 1 , wherein said phosphor for electron beam excitation is expressed by a general formula of CaAlSiN 3 :Eu. 
     
     
       6. The phosphor according to  claim 1 , wherein said phosphor for electron beam excitation is in a powder form. 
     
     
       7. The phosphor for electron beam excitation according to  claim 6 , wherein an average particle size of said phosphor for electron beam excitation is from 1 μm to 10 μm inclusive. 
     
     
       8. A color display device, wherein the phosphor for electron beam excitation according to  claim 1  is used. 
     
     
       9. A method of exciting a phosphor to emit light by electron beam irradiation, comprising:
 providing a phosphor expressed by a composition formula of MmAaBbOoNn:Z, where an element M is one or more bivalent elements, an element A is one or more trivalent elements, an element B is one or more tetravalent elements, O is oxygen, N is nitrogen, and an element Z is an activator, and where values of m>0, a>0, b>0, o≧0, where values of m=a=b=1, and n=2/3m+a+4/3b−2/3o); and 
 irradiating the phosphor with an electron beam. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9, wherein the element M is one or more elements selected from Mg (magnesium), Ca (calcium), Sr (strontium), Ba (barium) and Zn (zinc), the element A is one or more elements selected from B (boron), Al (aluminum) and Ga (gallium), the element B is Si (silicon) and/or Ge (germanium), and the element Z is one or more elements selected from rare earth or transition metals. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 9, wherein the element A is Al (aluminum), and the element B is Si (silicon). 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 9, wherein the element M is Ca (calcium) and the element Z is Eu (europium). 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 9, wherein said phosphor for electron beam excitation is expressed by a general formula of CaAlSiN 3 :Eu. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 9, wherein said phosphor is in a powder form. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14, wherein an average particle size of said phosphor for electron beam excitation is from 1 μm to 10 μm inclusive.