Semiconductor superfine particle phosphor and light emitting device

A phosphor comprising a silicon-containing solid matrix and semiconductor superfine particles dispersed therein at a concentration of 5×104 to 1×10−2 mol/L, said semiconductor superfine particles having a fluorescence quantum yield of 3% or greater and a diameter of 1.5 to 5 nm,

• wherein the semiconductor superfine particles have a surface coating of a material other than material found in the silicon-containing solid matrix,
• wherein the silicon-containing solid matrix is a glass matrix formed by a sol-gel process using an organoalkoxysilane, and
• wherein the organoalkoxysilane is a compound expressed by the formula:
• Xn—Si(OR1)4-n (I)
• wherein X is a group expressed by CH2═CH—, an oxirane-containing group, a group expressed by H2NCmH2m—, a group expressed by CH2═C(CH3)COOCpH2p—, a group expressed by HSCqH2q—, or a phenyl group;
• R1 is a lower alkyl group;
• n is 1, 2, or 3;
• m is an integer from 1 to 6;
• p is an integer from 1 to 5;
• and q is an integer from 1 to 10.