Single-Component, UV-Emitting Phosphor
AssigneeOsram Sylvania Inc.
InventorsChen-Wen Fan, Thomas Snyder, Eric Thomason
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is a single-component, UV-emitting phosphor having a composition represented by the general formula (Y1−x−y−zLaxGdyCeZ)PO4 where x has a value in a range from 0.001 to 0.98, y has a value in a range from 0 and 0.1, z has a value in a range from 0.01 and 0.2, and x+y+z<1. The phosphor when stimulated by 254 nm radiation emits in both the UVA and UVB regions. The relative balance of the UVA and UVB emissions may be varied by adjusting the relative amounts of Y and La. Brightness can be increased by adding Gd to the composition.
Claims17
A single-component, UV-emitting phosphor having a composition represented by a general formula (Y1−x−y−zLaxGdyCez)PO4 where x has a value in a range from 0.001 to 0.98, y has a value in a range from 0 and 0.1, z has a value in a range from 0.01 and 0.2, and x+y+z<1.
A single-component, UV-emitting phosphor having a composition represented by the general formula (Y1−x−y−zLaxGdyCez)PO4 where x has a value in a range from 0.001 and 0.4, y has a value in a range from 0 and 0.1, and z has a value in a range from 0.01 and 0.2, and x+y+z<0.5.
A single-component, UV-emitting phosphor having a UVB/UVA ratio in a range from 2 and 25% when stimulated by 254 nm radiation.
A method of making a single-component, UV-emitting phosphor having a composition represented by a general formula (Y1−x−y−zLaxGdyCez)PO4 where x has a value in a range from 0.001 to 0.98, y has a value in a range from 0 and 0.1, z has a value in a range from 0.01 and 0.2, and x+y+z<1, the method comprising combining stoichiometric amounts of a phosphate source, a yttrium source, a lanthanum source, a gadolinium source, a cerium source, and a flux to form a mixture and firing the mixture to form the phosphor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.