PERSISTENT PHOSPHOR
First Claim
1. A material comprising a phosphor comprising a general formula of Ax-y-zAl2-m-n-o-pO4:
- Euy, REz, Bm, Znn, Coo, Scp wherein;
A may be Ba, Sr, Ca, or a combination of these metals;
x is between about 0.75 and 1.3;
y is between about 0.0005 and 0.1;
z is between about 0.0005 and 0.1;
m is between about 0.0005 and 0.30;
n is between about 0.0005 and 0.10;
o is between about 0 and 0.01;
p is between about 0 and 0.05; and
RE is Dy, Nd, or a combination thereof.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A long-lived phosphor composition is provided, along with methods for making and using the composition. More specifically, in one embodiment, the phosphor comprises a material having a formula of Ax-y-zAl2-m-n-o-pO4:Euy, REz, Bm, Znn, Coo, Scp. In this formula, A may be Ba, Sr, Ca, or a combination of these metals, x is between about 0.75 and 1.3, y is between about 0.0005 and 0.1, z is between about 0.0005 and 0.1, m is between about 0.0005 and 0.30, n is between about 0.0005 and 0.10, o is between about 0 and 0.01 and p is between about 0 and 0.05. RE is Dy, Nd, or a combination thereof. In another embodiment, methods are provided for making persistent phosphors comprising the formulations above. Other embodiments provide applications for such a phosphor, comprising uses in toys, emergency equipment, clothing, and instrument panels, among others.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A material comprising a phosphor comprising a general formula of Ax-y-zAl2-m-n-o-pO4:
- Euy, REz, Bm, Znn, Coo, Scp wherein;
A may be Ba, Sr, Ca, or a combination of these metals; x is between about 0.75 and 1.3; y is between about 0.0005 and 0.1; z is between about 0.0005 and 0.1; m is between about 0.0005 and 0.30; n is between about 0.0005 and 0.10; o is between about 0 and 0.01; p is between about 0 and 0.05; and RE is Dy, Nd, or a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
- Euy, REz, Bm, Znn, Coo, Scp wherein;
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4. A method for producing a phosphor, the method comprising:
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providing amounts of oxygen-containing compounds of europium, RE, and at least one alkaline-earth metal selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr, Ca, and combinations thereof, wherein RE is at least one of neodymium or dysprosium; mixing together the oxygen-containing compounds to form a mixture; and then firing the mixture at a temperature between about 900°
C. and about 1700°
C. under a reducing atmosphere for a sufficient period of time to convert the mixture to a phosphor comprising a general formula of Ax-y-zAl2-m-n-o-pO4;
Euy, REz, Bm, Znn, Coo, Scp wherein;A may be Ba, Sr, Ca, or a combination of these metals; x is between about 0.75 and 1.3; y is between about 0.0005 and 0.1; z is between about 0.0005 and 0.1; m is between about 0.0005 and 0.30; n is between about 0.0005 and 0.10; o is between about 0 and 0.01; p is between about 0 and 0.05; and RE is Dy, Nd, or a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. An article of manufacture containing a phosphor, comprising:
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a structure; and a phosphor comprising a general formula of Ax-y-zAl2-m-n-o-pO4;
Euy, REz, Bm, Znn, Coo, Scp wherein;A may be Ba, Sr, Ca, or a combination of these metals; x is between about 0.75 and 1.3; y is between about 0.0005 and 0.1; z is between about 0.0005 and 0.1; m is between about 0.0005 and 0.30; n is between about 0.0005 and 0.10; o is between about 0 and 0.01; p is between about 0 and 0.05; and RE is Dy, Nd, or a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for making nano-scale particles of an oxide based phosphor, comprising:
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forming a first micro-emulsion; forming a second micro-emulsion; mixing the first and the second micro-emulsion to form a solution; isolating precursor particles from the solution; and forming nano-scale particles of the oxide based phosphor from the precursor particles;
wherein the oxide based phosphor comprises a general formula of Ax-y-zAl2-m-n-o-pO4;
Euy, REz, Bm, Znn, Coo, Scp wherein;A may be Ba, Sr, Ca, or a combination of these metals; x is between about 0.75 and 1.3; y is between about 0.0005 and 0.1; z is between about 0.0005 and 0.1; m is between about 0.0005 and 0.30; n is between about 0.0005 and 0.10; o is between about 0 and 0.01; p is between about 0 and 0.05; and RE is Dy, Nd, or a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for making nano-scale particles of an oxide based phosphor, comprising:
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forming an organic metal solution; forming a first micro-emulsion; heating the organic metal solution, and slowly adding the organic metal solution to the first micro-emulsion to form a second micro-emulsion; isolating precursor particles from the second micro-emulsion solution; and forming nano-scale particles of the oxide based phosphor from the precursor particles, wherein the oxide based phosphor comprises a general formula of Ax-y-zAl2-m-n-o-pO4;
Euy, REz, Bm, Znn, Coo, Scp wherein;A may be Ba, Sr, Ca, or a combination of these metals; x is between about 0.75 and 1.3; y is between about 0.0005 and 0.1; z is between about 0.0005 and 0.1; m is between about 0.0005 and 0.30; n is between about 0.0005 and 0.10; o is between about 0 and 0.01; p is between about 0 and 0.05; and RE is Dy, Nd, or a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification