Light emitting device with electrode comprising a ceramic material

Light emitting device, in particular a fluorescent lamp, comprising an electrode comprising a ceramic material which is essentially made out of a material having a formula (MI)6-yMII2O11-y, wherein MI is selected from alkaline earth metals or mixtures thereof, MII is selected from Ta, Nb or mixtures thereof, and y is ≧0 and ≦6, the ceramic material being in contact with at least one reducing compound and/or at least one precursor compound decomposable during processing and/or lamp operation into at least one reducing compound, the reducing compound or precursor compound being provided in the form of a coating, the reducing compound or precursor compound being provided in the form of a coating of the electrode and/or the ceramic material and comprising a metal material which is selected from the group consisting of Mg, Sc, Y, La, rare earth metals, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Ni, B, Al, Si, and mixtures thereof.