Phosphor and light-emitting equipment using phosphor

• US 9,738,829 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2015
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Citizen Electronics Company Limited, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corp.), Nichia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Citizen Electronics Company Limited, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corp.), National Institute for Materials Science, Nichia Corporation
• Inventors: Hirosaki, Naoto, Ueda, Kyota, Yamamoto, Hajime
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoban, Matthew E
• Application Number:
  US14/736,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20150275082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 2523014 F
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 21/0602 with two or more other elements chosen from metals, silicon or boron
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 21/0821 Oxynitrides of metals, boron or silicon
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/72 by d-values or two theta-values, e.g. as X-ray diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/77 by unit-cell parameters, atom positions or structure diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/84 by UV- or VIS- data
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2235/3224 Rare earth oxide or oxide forming salts thereof, e.g. scandium oxide
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2235/3229 Cerium oxides or oxide-forming salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2235/3232 Titanium oxides or titanates, e.g. rutile or anatase
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2235/3244 Zirconium oxides, zirconates, hafnium oxides, hafnates, or oxide-forming salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2235/3262 Manganese oxides, manganates, rhenium oxides or oxide-forming salts thereof, e.g. MnO
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2235/3852 Nitrides, e.g. oxynitrides, carbonitrides, oxycarbonitrides, lithium nitride, magnesium nitride
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2235/3865 Aluminium nitrides
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2235/3878 Alpha silicon nitrides
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2235/3886 Refractory metal nitrides, e.g. vanadium nitride, tungsten nitride
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2235/445 Fluoride containing anions, e.g. fluosilicate
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2235/6567 Treatment time
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2235/761 Unit-cell parameters, e.g. lattice constants
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2235/77 Density
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 35/447 based on phosphates , e.g. hydroxyapatite
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 35/58 based on borides, nitrides, i.e. nitrides, oxynitrides, carbonitrides or oxycarbonitrides or silicides containing free binder metal C22C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 35/581 : based on aluminium nitride
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 35/584 : based on silicon nitride
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 35/597 : based on silicon oxynitride, e.g. SIALONS
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/0883 : Arsenides; Nitrides; Phosphides
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/643 : with alkaline earth metals
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/646 : Silicates
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/7703 : with alkaline earth metals
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/77068 : Silicon Aluminium Nitrides or Silicon Aluminium Oxynitrides
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/7718 : with alkaline earth metals
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/77218 : Silicon Aluminium Nitrides or Silicon Aluminium Oxynitrides
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/7728 : containing europium
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/7734 : Aluminates
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/77348 : Silicon Aluminium Nitrides or Silicon Aluminium Oxynitrides
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/7746 : with alkaline earth metals
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/77498 : Silicon Aluminium Nitrides or Silicon Aluminium Oxynitrides
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/7761 : with alkaline earth metals
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/7764 : Aluminates; Silicates
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/7783 : containing two or more rare earth metals one of which being europium
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/77928 : Silicon Aluminium Nitrides or Silicon Aluminium Oxynitrides
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 : Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 : connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/73265 : Layer and wire connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00012 : Relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 : the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/181 : Encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/502 : Wavelength conversion materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 : Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

Phosphors include a CaAlSiN₃ family crystal phase, wherein the CaAlSiN₃ family crystal phase comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb.

Claims

1. A phosphor, comprising a CaAlSiN₃ family crystal phase, wherein:

the CaAlSiN₃ family crystal phase has a crystal structure belonging to the Cmc2₁ space group; and

the CaAlSiN₃ family crystal phase comprises;

at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb;

at least one divalent element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba;

at least one trivalent element selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, In, Sc, Y, La, Gd, and Lu; and

at least one tetravalent element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr, and Hf.

2. The phosphor according to claim 1, wherein the CaAlSiN₃ family crystal phase comprises an inorganic compound having an X-ray diffraction pattern exhibiting at least ten peaks present in the X-ray diffraction pattern of CaAlSiN₃.

3. The phosphor according to claim 2, wherein the CaAlSiN₃ family crystal phase comprises an inorganic compound having lattice constants that differ from lattice constants of CaAlSiN₃ due to replacement of at least one constituent element of CaAlSiN₃ with at least one other element.

4. The phosphor according to claim 1, wherein the CaAlSiN₃ family crystal phase comprises at least Eu, Ca, Sr, Al, Si, and N.

5. The phosphor according to claim 1, wherein the CaAlSiN₃ family crystal phase comprises at least O and N.

6. The phosphor according to claim 4, wherein the CaAlSiN₃ family crystal phase comprises at least O and N.

7. The phosphor according to claim 5, wherein the CaAlSiN₃ family crystal phase comprises O and N in amounts satisfying:

0.5≦

(number of atoms of N)/{(number of atoms of N)+(number of atoms of O)}≦

1.

8. The phosphor according to claim 6, wherein the CaAlSiN₃ family crystal phase comprises O and N in amounts satisfying:

0.5≦

(number of atoms of N)/{(number of atoms of N)+(number of atoms of O)}≦

1.

9. The phosphor according to claim 4, wherein the CaAlSiN₃ family crystal phase comprises Ca and Sr in amounts satisfying:

0.02≦

(number of atoms of Ca)/{(number of atoms of Ca)+(number of atoms of Sr)}<

1.

10. The phosphor according to claim 6, wherein the CaAlSiN₃ family crystal phase comprises Ca and Sr in amounts satisfying:

0.02≦

(number of atoms of Ca)/{(number of atoms of Ca)+(number of atoms of Sr)}<

1.

11. The phosphor according to claim 1, wherein the CaAlSiN₃ family crystal phase has a composition given by:

M_aA_bD_cE_dX_e

wherein;

M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb;

A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba;

D is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr, and Hf;

E is at least one element selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, In, Sc, Y, La, Gd, and Lu;

X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of O, N, and F;

a+b=1;

0.00001≦

a≦

0.1;

0.5≦

c≦

1.8;

0.5≦

d≦

1.8;

0.8×

(⅔

+4/3×

c+d)≦

e; and

e≦

1.2×

(⅔

+4/3×

c+d).

12. The phosphor according to claim 1, wherein, when irradiated by an excitation source, the phosphor emits light having a peak emission intensity at a wavelength of from 570 nm to 700 nm.

13. The phosphor according to claim 4, wherein, when irradiated by an excitation source, the phosphor emits light having a peak emission intensity at a wavelength of from 570 nm to 700 nm.

14. The phosphor according to claim 9, wherein, when irradiated by an excitation source, the phosphor emits light having a peak emission intensity at a wavelength of from 570 nm to 700 nm.

15. The phosphor according to claim 11, wherein, when irradiated by an excitation source, the phosphor emits light having a peak emission intensity at a wavelength of from 570 nm to 700 nm.

16. The phosphor according to claim 1, wherein, when irradiated by an excitation source, the phosphor emits light having a color satisfying:

0.45≦

x≦

0.7

as a value of (x, y) on the CIE chromaticity coordinates.

17. The phosphor according to claim 4, wherein, when irradiated by an excitation source, the phosphor emits light having a color satisfying:

0.45≦

x≦

0.7

as a value of (x, y) on the CIE chromaticity coordinates.

18. The phosphor according to claim 9, wherein, when irradiated by an excitation source, the phosphor emits light having a color satisfying:

0.45≦

x≦

0.7

as a value of (x, y) on the CIE chromaticity coordinates.

19. The phosphor according to claim 11, wherein, when irradiated by an excitation source, the phosphor emits light having a color satisfying:

0.45≦

x≦

0.7

as a value of (x, y) on the CIE chromaticity coordinates.

20. A phosphor, comprising a solid solution crystal phase, wherein:

the solid solution crystal phase is a CaAlSiN₃ family crystal phase having a crystal structure belonging to the Cmc2₁ space group; and

the CaAlSiN₃ family crystal phase comprises;

at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu;

at least one divalent element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba;

at least one trivalent element selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, In, Sc, Y, La, Gd, and Lu; and

at least one tetravalent element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr, and Hf.

21. A phosphor, comprising an inorganic compound, wherein:

the inorganic compound comprises M, A, D, E, and X;

M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb;

A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of divalent metal elements other than M;

D is at least one element selected from the group consisting of tetravalent metal elements;

E is at least one element selected from the group consisting of trivalent metal elements;

X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of 0, N, and F; and

the inorganic compound comprises a CaAlSiN₃ family crystal phase having a crystal structure belonging to the Cmc2₁ space group.

22. The phosphor according to claim 21, wherein the inorganic compound has lattice constants that differ from lattice constants of CaAlSiN₃ due to replacement of at least one constituent element of CaAlSiN₃ with at least one other element.

23. The phosphor according to claim 21, wherein the inorganic compound comprises Sr.

24. The phosphor according to claim 23, wherein the inorganic compound comprises Ca and Sr in amounts satisfying:

0.02≦

(number of atoms of Ca)/{(number of atoms of Ca)+(number of atoms of Sr)}<

1.