Photoluminescent phosphor powders, methods for making phosphor powders and devices incorporating same

A powder batch comprising Y2O3 phosphor particles, wherein said particles have a weight average particle size of from about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm and have a substantially spherical morphology, wherein at least about 80 weight percent of said particles are not larger than two times said average particle size.

A powder batch comprising (Y,Gd)BO3 phosphor particles, wherein said particles have a weight average particle size of from about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm and have a substantially spherical morphology, wherein at least about 80 weight percent of said particles are not larger than two times said average particle size.

A powder batch comprising Zn2SiO4 phosphor particles, wherein said particles have a weight average particle size of from about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm and have a substantially spherical morphology, wherein at least about 80 weight percent of said particles are not larger than two times said average particle size.

A powder batch comprising BaMgAlXOy phosphor particles, wherein said particles have a weight average particle size of from about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm and have a substantially spherical morphology, wherein at least about 80 weight percent of said particles are not larger than two times said average particle size.

A powder batch comprising BaAlXOY phosphor particles, wherein said particles have a weight average particle size of from about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm and have a substantially spherical morphology, wherein at least about 80 weight percent of said particles are not larger than two times said average particle size.

A flowable medium suitable for applying photoluminescent phosphor particles onto a substrate, comprising:

• a) a liquid vehicle phase;
• and
• b) a functional phase dispersed throughout said vehicle phase, said functional phase comprising photoluminescent phosphor particles, wherein said phosphor particles are substantially spherical and have a weight average particle size of not greater than about 5 μm.

A paste composition suitable for applying phosphor particles onto a substrate, comprising:

• a) a liquid vehicle phase;
• and
• b) a functional phase dispersed throughout said vehicle phase, said functional phase comprising photoluminescent phosphor particles having a weight average particle size of not greater than about 5 μm and a particle size distribution wherein at least about 80 weight percent of said particles are not larger than two times said average particle size.

A photoluminescent device comprising:

• a) an excitation source;
• and
• b) at least a first layer of photoluminescent phosphor particles adapted to be stimulated by said excitation source, wherein said phosphor particles have a weight average particle size of from about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm, a substantially spherical morphology and wherein at least about 80 weight percent of said particles are not larger than two times said average particle size.

A plasma display panel, comprising:

• a) a rear panel comprising a plurality of row electrodes;
• b) a front panel comprising a plurality of column electrodes, wherein said row electrodes and said column electrodes are in perpendicular relation to form a plurality of addressable x-y coordinates;
• c) a photoluminescent phosphor powder dispersed on a substrate disposed between said electrodes, wherein said phosphor powder comprises particles having a weight average particle size of not greater than about 5 μm and a particle size distribution wherein at least about 80 weight percent of said particles are not larger than two times said average particle size.

A fluorescent lighting element, comprising:

• a) an excitation source;
• and
• b) a phosphor powder layer comprising photoluminescent phosphor particles adapted to be stimulated by said excitation source, wherein said phosphor particles have a substantially spherical morphology, a weight average particle size of from about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm and wherein at least about 80 weight percent of said particles are not larger than two times said average particle size.

An article of manufacture comprising indicia for identifying said article, wherein said indicia comprises a layer of photoluminescent phosphor particles in a predetermined pattern, wherein said phosphor particles have a substantially spherical morphology, have a weight average particle size of from about 0.3 μm to about 5 μm and wherein at least about 80 weight percent of said particles are not larger than about two times said average particle size.

A method for securing a document, comprising the steps of providing a document and applying photoluminescent phosphor particles on said document, wherein said phosphor particles have a weight average particle size of from about 0.1 μm to about 5 μm and a substantially spherical morphology.