Phosphors containing oxides of alkaline-earth and group-IIIB metals and white-light sources incorporating same

A method for producing a phosphor, the method comprising:

• providing amounts of oxygen-containing compounds of magnesium;
• europium;
• manganese;
• at least another alkaline-earth metal, which is selected from the group consisting of barium, strontium, calcium, and combinations thereof;
• and at least a metal of Group III-B of the Periodic Table of the Elements, the metal of Group-IIIB being selected from the group consisting of Ga, In, and combinations thereof;
• mixing together the oxygen-containing compounds to form a mixture;
• and
• firing the mixture at a temperature between about 1000° C. and about 1600° C. under a reducing atmosphere for a sufficient period of time to convert the mixture to said phosphor having a formula of (A1−aEua)(Mg1−bMnb)D10O17;
• wherein A is said at least another alkaline-earth metal, D is said at least a metal of Group-IIIB, 0.001<a≦0.5, and 0.001<b≦0.3.

A method for producing a phosphor, the method comprising:

• providing a first solution that comprises compounds of magnesium;
• europium;
• manganese;
• at least another alkaline-earth metal, which is selected from the group consisting of barium, strontium, and calcium;
• and at least a Group-IIIB metal selected from the group consisting of Ga, In, and combinations thereof;
• providing a second solution, which comprises at least a compound that is capable of producing a precipitate when the first and second solutions are mixed together;
• mixing the first and second solutions to produce a precipitate containing magnesium, europium, manganese, said at least another alkaline-earth metal, and said at least a Group-IIIB metal;
• and
• firing the mixture under a reducing atmosphere at a temperature and for a sufficient period of time to convert the mixture to a phosphor having a formula of(A1−aEua)(Mg1−b Mnb)D10O17;
• wherein A is said at least another alkaline-earth metal;
• D is said at least a Group-IIIB metal;
• 0.001<a≦0.5, and 0.001<b≦0.3.

A phosphor blend comprising:

• a phosphor comprising a material having a formula of AMgD10O17:Eu2+,Mn2+, wherein A is at least an alkaline-earth metal selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr, Ca, and combinations thereof;
• and D is at least a metal selected from the group consisting of Ga, In, and combinations thereof;
• wherein Eu2+ ions are present in an amount from about 10 to about 50 atom percent of a combined quantity of A ions and europium ions, and Mn2+ ions are present in an amount from about 5 to about 30 atom percent of a combined quantity of magnesium ions and manganese ions;
• and
• at least another phosphor emitting a light color selected from the group consisting of blue, blue-green, green, yellow, yellow-orange, orange-red, and red.

A light source emitting visible light, the light source comprising:

• a radiation source that emits in a wavelength range from about 250 nm to about 480 nm;
• and
• a phosphor having a fonnula of (A1−aEua)(Mg1−bMnb)D10O17;
• wherein A is at least an alkaline-earth metal other than Mg, D is at least a Group-IIIB consisting of Ga, In, and combinations thereof;
• 0.001<a≦0.5, and 0.001<b ≦0.3, which phosphor is disposed adjacent to the radiation source to receive the radiation and emit the visible light.