Oxide based phosphors and processes therefor

A phosphor having a spectral output, said phosphor comprising:

• a) zinc,
• b) a refractory metal, and
• c) oxygen
• chemically combined in suitable proportions such that said zinc is present in the combination in excess of a stoichiometric quantity and said spectral output has a desired color,
• said phosphor further comprising at least one dopant for modifying said spectral output, wherein said at least one dopant is selected from any of the lanthanide series of rare earth elements, manganese, chromium, and combinations thereof.

A phosphor, having a spectral output said phosphor comprising:

• a) zinc,
• b) a refractory metal, and
• c) oxygen,
• chemically combined in suitable proportions such that said zinc is present in the combination in excess of a stoichiometric quantity and said spectral output has a desired color,
• said phosphor further comprising at least one dopant for modifying said spectral output, wherein said at least one dopant is selected from manganese and terbium for providing a green peak in said spectral output.

A phosphor comprising, in atomic percentages:

• a) 90% to 100% of a mixed metal oxide MxTyOz, wherein
• M is a metal selected from Zn, Sn, In, Cu, and combinations thereof,
• T is a refractory metal selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, and combinations thereof,
• and O is Oxygen,
• x, y, and z being chosen such that x is in excess of a stoichiometric quantity and z is at most stoichiometric for MxTyOz;
• and
• b) 0% to 10% of a dopant comprising a substance selected from any of the lanthanide series of rare earth elements, manganese, chromium, and combinations thereof.

A phosphor having a spectral output said phosphor comprising:

• a) zinc,
• b) a refractory metal, and
• c) oxygen,
• chemically combined in suitable proportions such that said zinc is present in the combination in excess of a stoichiometric quantity and said spectral output has a desired color,
• said phosphor further comprising at least one dopant for modifying said spectral output,
• wherein said at least one dopant comprises a quantity of manganese for providing said spectral output with a color selected from the list consisting of red, green, and blue, and said quantity of manganese is insufficient for providing a spectral output of green or red, whereby said spectral output is blue.

A method for making a multi-color phosphor, comprising the steps of

• a) providing a base phosphor, said base phosphor comprising Ta2Zn3O8;
• b) selectively introducing an effective quantity of Mn into a portion of said base phosphor;
• and
• c) annealing said base phosphor at an effective temperature.

A phosphor having a red spectral output, said phosphor comprising in combination:

• a) zinc,
• b) oxygen,
• c) a refractory metal, and
• d) a quantity of manganese as a dopant, in an amount suitable to produce said red spectral output.

A phosphor having a spectral output including a green peak, said phosphor comprising in combination:

• a) zinc,
• b) oxygen,
• c) a refractory metal, and
• d) a quantity of manganese as a dopant, in an amount suitable to produce said spectral output including a green peak.