Shin-etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.

Kazuhiro Wataya

Toshihiko Tsukatani

Takehisa Minowa

Toshihiro Tsumori

Masami Kaneyoshi

Yasushi Takai

Hajime Nakano

Takao Maeda

Shigeru Sakai

Shintaro Tanaka

Miyuki Ohyama

Hirofumi Kawazoe

Isamu Fujioka

Hironori Suzuki

A slurry of a dispersion medium and rare earth oxide particles. The particles having a volume basis median particle size D50 of up to 50 nm. The rare earth oxide particles having a dispersity index S of up to 1, the dispersity index S being determined according to the formula (1):(90−10)/50  (1)

Slurry with rare earth oxide particles

An aqueous solution containing ions of one or more rare earth elements selected from the group consisting of Y, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu, hydrogen peroxide, urea, and polyvinylpyrrolidone is heated at a temperature of 80&#xb0; C. or higher and equal to or lower than a boiling point of the aqueous solution to produce particles of a rare earth compound under a reaction between a hydrolysis product of urea and the ions of the rare earth elements. Furthermore, the particles of the rare earth compound are solid-liquid separated from the aqueous solution, and the obtained solid content is baked at a temperature of 600&#xb0; C. or higher in an atmosphere containing oxygen to produce rare earth oxide particles.

Rare earth compound particles and method for producing rare earth oxide particles

Rare earth compound particles are prepared by a step of heating an aqueous solution containing rare earth metal ions and urea to form a rare earth compound by a reaction of a hydrolysis product of urea, and the rare earth metal ions. In the heating step, heating the aqueous solution into which an acetylene glycol-ethylene oxide adduct is added.

Method for preparing rare earth compound particles, rare earth oxide particles, and rare earth oxide particles-containing slurry

Provided is a wavelength conversion member in which the following are dispersed in a thermoplastic resin: a LuYAG fluorescent material that is represented by (YLuCe)AlO(in which &#x3b1; is a positive number between 0.3-0.8 inclusive and &#x3b2; is a positive number between 0.01-0.05 inclusive), that emits yellow-green light as a result of excitation by blue light, and that has a diffraction peak within a range in which the diffraction angle 2&#x3b8; in X-ray diffraction by the Kline of Cu is 52.9&#xb0; to 53.2&#xb0; inclusive; and a KSF fluorescent material that is represented by K(SiMn)F(in which x is a positive number between 0.001 and 0.3 inclusive) and that emits red light as a result of excitation by blue light. The content of the KSF fluorescent material in the wavelength conversion member is 1 to 5 times the content of the LuYAG fluorescent material by mass ratio. The wavelength conversion member makes it possible to provide a light-emitting device that has small color deviation, that is suitable as a lighting device, that emits white light, and that has good color rendering properties in a color temperature range of 4,000-6,500K, i.e., the color temperature range from white to daylight color.

Wavelength conversion member and light-emitting device

A turn signal for a vehicle has a blue LED as a light source, and an outer cover irradiated by the blue light. The outer cover includes a molded body of a polymeric material including phosphors dispersed therein that absorb blue light and emit light. By means of the present invention, it is possible to provide a turn signal for vehicles which has improved visibility and which imparts excellent visibility and sufficient luminous intensity over a wide angle. Further, because the entire outer cover surface-emits light, uniformity of luminous intensity is ensured without subjecting the outer cover to light scattering treatment, enabling as a result preventing glare caused by light scattering treatment, making this turn signal safe without being unpleasant for pedestrians and drivers of nearby vehicles. Furthermore, because no complex optical design is necessary, this turn signal saves space and can be arranged in a vehicle.

Turn signal for vehicle

Provided is a method of producing a Mn-activated complex fluoride phosphor, the method including: mixing a red phosphor as a Mn-activated complex fluoride represented by the following formula (1):KMF:Mn&#x2003;&#x2003;(1)wherein M is one or two or more of tetravalent elements selected from the group consisting of Si, Ti, Zr, Hf, Ge and Sn and necessarily includes Si, with KMnFin solid state and optionally with a hydrogenfluoride represented by the following formula (2):AF.HF&#x2003;&#x2003;(2)wherein A is one or two or more of alkali metals and/or ammonium selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb and NHand necessarily includes K, and n is a number of 0.7 to 4, in solid state; and heating the resulting mixture at a temperature of 100 to 500&#xb0; C. According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a Mn-activated complex fluoride phosphor which can be used with smaller amount as compared to those according to the related art.

Mn-activated complex fluoride phosphor and method of producing thereof

Disclosed is an adjustment component that: includes a complex fluoride fluorophore represented by A(MMn)F(in the formula: M is one or two or more of type of tetravalent element selected from Si, Ti, Zr, Hf, Ge, and Sn; A is one or two or more of type of alkali metal selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs and including at least Na and/or K; and x is from 0.001 to 0.3); and adjusts the chromaticity and/or color rendering index of illumination light by absorbing light having a wavelength of from 420 nm to 490 nm inclusive, and emitting light including a red wavelength component.

Adjustment component and light-emitting device

This lighting apparatus is provided with a blue LED chip having a maximum peak at a wavelength of 420-480 nm and a fluorescent material-containing resin layer disposed on the front of the blue LED chip in the light emission direction. The fluorescent material-containing resin layer is obtained by mixing and dispersing a LuAg fluorescent material, which is represented by the formula LuAlO:Ceand in which the Ce activation rate is 2 mol. % or lower relative to Lu, and a double fluoride fluorescent material represented by the formula A(BMn)F(in the formula, A is at least one type of element selected from among the group consisting of Li, Na, K and Cs, B is at least one type of element selected from among the group consisting of Si, Ti, Nb, Ge and Sn, and x is an integer that falls within the range 0.001&#x2264;x&#x2264;0.1) in a resin. The present invention is capable of achieving a higher sense of brightness, high visibility and a sense of brightness across a wide range under scotopic conditions or mesopic conditions with an emitted light color close to black body radiation.

Lighting apparatus

An outdoor luminaire comprising a blue LED chip having a maximum peak at a wavelength of 420-480 nm and a phosphor layer disposed forward of the LED chip in its emission direction is provided. The phosphor layer comprises a phosphor of the formula: LuAlO:Cewhich is activated with up to 1 mol % of Ce relative to Lu, the phosphor being dispersed in a resin. In scotopic and mesopic vision conditions, the luminaire produces illumination affording brighter lighting, higher visual perception and brightness over a broader area.

Outdoor luminaire

Disclosed is a wavelength conversion member which is a resin-molded article having dispersed therein a complex fluoride fluorophore that absorbs light with a blue wavelength component and emits light including a red wavelength component and that is represented by A(MMn)F(in the formula: M is at least one type of tetravalent element selected from Si, Ti, Zr, Hf, Ge, and Sn; A is at least one type of alkali metal selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs and including at least Na and/or K; and x is from 0.001 to 0.3), wherein the hue of the wavelength conversion member when light is not emitted is as follows in CIELAB (CIE 1976): L*=from 40 to 60 inclusive; a*=from 0 to +1 inclusive; and b*=from +2 to +15 inclusive.

Phosphor particles are provided in the form of spherical polycrystalline secondary particles consisting of a multiplicity of primary particles, including a garnet phase having the compositional formula: (AB)COwherein A is Y, Gd, and/or Lu, B is Ce, Nd, and/or Tb, C is Al and/or Ga, and 0.002&#x2266;x&#x2266;0.2, the secondary particles having an average particle size of 5-50 &#x3bc;m.

Phosphor particles, making method, and light-emitting diode

A method for treating a Mn-activated complex fluoride phosphor is provided wherein a preliminarily-prepared red phosphor of a Mn-activated complex fluoride represented by the following formula (1):AMF:Mn&#x2003;&#x2003;(1)wherein M represents at least one tetravalent element selected from Si, Ti, Zr, Hf, Ge and Sn, A represents at least one alkali metal selected from Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs provided that at least Na and/or K is contained, is heated in a substantially oxygen atom-free gas but containing a fluorine atom at a temperature of at least 50&#xb0; C.

Method for treating Mn-activated complex fluoride phosphor

A phosphor-containing resin molded body and a wavelength conversion member, in each of which one or more kinds of spherical phosphors represented by (ABC)CO(wherein A represents one or more rare earth elements selected from among Y, Gd and Lu; B represents one or more rare earth elements selected from among Ce, Nd and Tb; C represents Al and/or Ga; and x, y and z respectively represent positive numbers satisfying 0.002&#x2266;y&#x2266;0.2, 0&#x3c;z&#x2266;2/3 and x+y+z=1) and having an average circularity of 0.3 or less are dispersed in an amount of 0.1-20% by mass; a light emitting device which is provided with the wavelength conversion member; and a resin pellet for phosphor-containing resin molded bodies.

Phosphor-containing resin molded body, light emitting device, and resin pellet

An oxide ceramic fluorescent material is provided comprising a polycrystalline ceramic sintered body of YAlO, LuAlO, (Y,Lu)AlO, (Y,Gd)AlO, or AlOin which a rare earth element selected from Ce, Eu and Tb has been diffused from its surface as fluorescent activator. The concentration of the rare earth element is 1 wt % at a depth of 50-600 &#x3bc;m as measured from the sintered body surface and at least 1 wt % at any position nearer to the sintered body surface.

Oxide ceramic fluorescent material having rare earth diffused therein

Phosphor particles of generally spherical shape have an average particle diameter of 5-50 &#x3bc;m and an average roundness of up to 0.3. The phosphor includes a garnet phase having formula: (AB)COwherein A is Y, Gd, or Lu, B is Ce, Nd, or Tb, C is Al or Ga, and 0.002&#x2266;x&#x2266;0.2.

Growing community of inventors

Echizen, Japan

Kazuhiro Wataya