BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to novel divalent europium luminophors and, more especially, to novel divalent europium based luminophors which luminesce in the blue region of the spectrum. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of such novel blue emitting luminophors, and to the utilization of such luminophors in systems principled on the emission of light of wavelength in the blue range when bombarded with electrons. For purposes of the description which follows, a "blue luminophor" is defined as a composition which, when suitably excited, emits light within the range of wavelengths comprised between about 430 nm and 500 nm. Such luminophors may be excited, for example, by ultraviolet radiation, by X-radiation, or by cathodic radiation.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A certain number of blue luminophors are known to this art. Thus, likely the presently most commercially important blue luminophors are CaWO.sub.4 :Pb and ZnS:Ag. These luminophors display, as their principal disadvantage, a very broad emission band, which results in the phenomenon that an impure color encompassing both violet and green light is realized. Furthermore, the blue luminophor CaWO.sub.4 :Pb cannot be excited by means of high pressure mercury tubes having their principal radiation at 365 nm. Insofar as Zns:Ag is concerned, same indeed may be excited via high pressure mercury lamp radiation, but the intensity of the corresponding radiation is relatively low, thereby seriously delimiting practical application of such luminophor, especially in the field of illumination.

There are also known to the prior art certain matrices providing divalent europium luminscence in the blue range, for example, Sr.sub.5 (PO.sub.4).sub.3 Cl and Ca.sub.2 PO.sub.4 Cl matrices. The principal disadvantage of these phosphates is the fact that they provide, with europium, a blue luminescence with an intensity comparable to that of the luminophor, ZnS:Ag, and thus are not entirely satisfactory.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that a serious need exists in this art for a luminophor which emits in the blue range having both a narrow range of emission and characterized by high intensity, as well as being capable of excitation upon irradiation with a broad range of wavelengths.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, a major object of the present invention is the provision of a novel blue emitting luminophor, which novel luminophor both displays a narrow range of emission in the blue region of the spectrum and which emission is of high intensity.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel luminophor which emits blue light under excitation from irradiation over a broad wavelength range.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel blue emitting luminophor which is based upon divalent europium.

Briefly, the present invention features a blue emitting luminophor based on divalent europium, and characterized by the formula (I):

M.sub.5(1-.alpha.) Eu.sub.5.alpha..sup.2+ SiO.sub.4 X.sub.6 (I)

wherein M represents Ba.sub.1-.beta. Sr.sub..beta. or Ba.sub.1-.beta. Ca.sub..beta., with .beta. being greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to approximately 0.1 (0.ltoreq..beta..ltoreq.0.1); .alpha. is greater than 0 and less than or equal to approximately 0.2 (0.ltoreq..alpha..ltoreq.0.2); and X represents Cl.sub.1-.gamma. Br.sub..gamma., with .gamma. being greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to approximately 1 (0.ltoreq..gamma..ltoreq.1).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graph comparison of the emission spectra of the luminophors according to the invention vis-a-vis the prior art blue emitting luminophors;

FIG. 2 is a graph comparison of the variations in intensity of emission band maxima as a function of the wavelength of excitation, also of the luminophors according to the invention vis-a-vis the prior art blue emitting luminophors;

FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of the variation in intensity, under constant wavelength excitation, as a function of temperature, of a novel luminophor according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a graphical representation of the variation in intensity as a function of .alpha., with .beta. and .gamma. being zero, of a novel luminophor according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of the variation in intensity as a function of .beta., with .alpha. being 0.02 and .gamma. being zero, of a novel luminophor according to the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a graphical representation of the variation in intensity as a function of .gamma., with .alpha. being 0.02 and .beta. being zero, also of a novel luminophor according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

More particularly according to the invention, .alpha. is preferably comprised between approximately 0.003 and approximately 0.03, while .beta. is preferably greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to approximately 0.05.

Even more preferred embodiments of the invention are such luminophors of the aforenoted formula wherein .alpha. is comprised between approximately 0.003 and approximately 0.03 and wherein .beta.=0.

The most preferred luminophors according to the invention are those wherein .beta.=0 and .alpha.=0.02, and which correspond to the following general formula:

Ba.sub.4.90 Eu.sub.0.10.sup.2+ SiO.sub.4 X.sub.6

Another embodiment of the invention features a process for the preparation of the Formula I luminophors, which process is characterized in that an intimate admixture comprising:

[i] silica;

[ii] a barium/oxygen compound, where possibly including either a strontium/oxygen compound or a calcium/oxygen compound

[iii] a barium chloride (or bromide) compound, where possibly including either a strontium chloride (or bromide) compound or a calcium chloride (or bromide) compound and

[iv] an europium compound and

is subjected to at least one heat treatment, in a reducing medium, at a temperature between approximately 700.degree. C. and approximately 850.degree. C. for a period of time between approximately 1 hour and approximately 25 hours, each such heat treatment advantageously being followed by a grinding of the admixture.

In one variant of the process of the invention, prior to the heat treatment in the reducing environment, at least one heat treatment is effected, under an inert atmmosphere, at a temperature between approximately 700.degree. C. and approximately 850.degree. C., for a period of time between approximately 1 hour and approximately 25 hours, each heat treatment advantageously being followed by grinding of the product.

The advantage of the immediately foregoing variant lies in the fact that it makes it possible to reduce the duration of the treatment in the reducing medium.

According to a preferred embodiment of the process according to the invention, the aforesaid admixture is exposed to a first heat treatment under an inert atmosphere at a temperature between approximately 750.degree. C. and approximately 820.degree. C., for approximately 15 to 20 hours, and, after grinding, to a second heat treatment under a reducing atmosphere at a temperature between approximately 750.degree. C. and 820.degree. C., for approximately 1 to 5 hours.

Preferably, the barium/oxygen compound according to the invention is selected from the group comprising barium oxide, BaO, barium carbonate, BaCO.sub.3, and barium nitrate, Ba(NO.sub.3).sub.2 ; the strontium/oxygen compound is preferably selected from the group comprising strontium oxide, SrO, strontium carbonate, SrCO.sub.3, and strontium nitrate, Sr(NO.sub.3).sub.2 ; the calcium/oxygen compound is preferably selected from the group comprising calcium oxide, CaO, calcium carbonate, CaCO.sub.3, and calcium nitrate, Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2 ; the europium compound is preferably selected from the group comprising europium oxide, Eu.sub.2 O.sub.3, the europium chlorides, EuCl.sub.2 and EuCl.sub.3, the europium bromides, EuBr.sub.2 and EuBr.sub.3 and europium nitrate, Eu(NO.sub.3).sub.3.

It will be appreciated that any one of the starting material compounds, particularly the oxides, may be replaced by mineral salts capable of effecting formation, in situ, of such starting material compounds under the conditions of the reaction. Nevertheless, it too will be appreciated that the starting materials comprise at least one X donor, i.e., barium chloride and/or bromide, strontium chloride and/or bromide, or calcium chloride and/or bromide.

While the reaction pressure is not critical, the process of the invention is typically effected under atmospheric pressure.

The heat treatment under an inert atmosphere is typically effected under a nitrogen or argon blanket and the heat treatment in the reducing medium is under a hydrogen (or argon with a few percent of hydrogen) atmosphere or in a carbon boat wherein the reaction mixture is deposited.

Yet another feature of the invention is the utilization of the subject luminophors in any system keyed to luminescence within the aforenoted spectral range. Thus, under ultraviolet excitation and luminophors according to the invention (and more particularly those wherein .alpha.=0.02 and .beta.=0) may be used for illumination in fluorescent devices, in particular in trichromatic tubes or lamps, and to otherwise obtain blue light, particularly in the field of diazocopying, or for medical treatments, such as the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia. With X-ray excitation, the subject luminophors may be used in the manufacture of reinforcing screens for X-rays in the field of medical radiography. Finally, under cathodic excitation, the luminophors according to the invention may be used in multichromatic visual devices, particularly for television.

The blue emitting luminophors according to the invention are characterized by a narrow emission band width and by high emission intensity. Concerning excitation, the substances have the advantage in that they may be excited over a broad range of wavelengths; they may thus be excited both by means of irradiation from low pressure mercury lamps (principal radiation at 253.7 nm) and by irradiation from high pressure mercury lamps (principal radiation at 365 nm).

Another advantage of the topic luminophors is that, as will be more fully demonstrated hereinbelow, the thermal variation in emission therefrom evidences that such materials are compatible with devices which operate at temperatures higher than ambient temperature.

In order to further illustrate the present invention and the advantages thereof, the following specific examples are given, it being understood that same are intended only as illustrative and in nowise limitative.

EXAMPLE 1

Preparation of Ba.sub.4.90 Eu.sub.0.10.sup.2+ SiO.sub.4 Cl.sub.6 (.alpha.=0.02; .beta.=0; .gamma.=0):

The following compounds were intimately dry mixed: 2.2498 g BaCO.sub.3 ; 4.3970 g BaCl.sub.2.2H.sub.2 O; 0.3605 g SiO.sub.2 and 0.1056 g Eu.sub.2 O.sub.3. The mixture was ground until a homogeneous powder was obtained.

The powder was introduced into an alumina boat which was placed into a furnace; the furnace was heated to 800.degree. C. and maintained at this temperature for 20 hours under nitrogen flow.

The resulting product was ground until a fine powder was obtained, which was again placed into the furnace. Same was maintained therein at 800.degree. C. for 2 hours under a hydrogen flow.

A white powder, in an amount of 5.9 g, was obtained, said powder being insensitive to the effects of atmospheric humidity.

The compound obtained had the formula Ba.sub.4.90 Eu.sub.0.10.sup.2+ SiO.sub.4 Cl.sub.6 and was characterized by the X-ray diffraction spectrum presented hereinbelow, indexed on the basis of a monoclinic lattice having the following parameters: a=9.45.+-.0.05 A; b=14.75.+-.0.05 A; c=11.69.+-.0.05 A; .beta.=104.39.degree..+-.0.05.degree..

                  TABLE I
    ______________________________________
    X-Ray Diffraction Spectrum of Ba.sub.4.90 Eu.sub.0.10.sup.2+  SiO.sub.4
    Cl.sub.6
    I         d.sub.obs. A
                          d.sub.calc. A
                                      h k l
    ______________________________________
    15        7.16        7.157       1 1 -1
    15        6.19        6.181       0 2 1
    35        4.58        4.579       2 0 0
    75        4.18        4.179       1 1 2
    10        4.09        4.092       2 0 -2
    100       3.93        3.944       2 2 -1
    45        3.90        3.890       2 2 0
    50        3.72        3.719       1 1 -3
    30        3.69        3.688       0 4 0
    15        3.65        3.655       1 3 -2
    20        3.58        3.578       2 2 -2
    45        3.50        3.507       0 4 1
    80        3.258       3.261       1 3 2
    10        3.190       3.194       2 0 2
    40        3.087       3.091       0 4 2
    65        3.027       3.028       1 3 -3
    60        2.988       2.989       3 1 0
    10        2.928       2.931       2 2 2
    15        2.864       2.863       1 1 -4
    15        2.803       2.808       1 5 0
    15        2.773       2.775       1 5 -1
    60        2.736       2.739       2 4 -2
    60        2.728       2.731       3 1 1
    65        2.680       2.678       1 5 1
    30        2.642       2.644       0 2 4
    10        2.594       2.594       3 3 0
    10        2.572       2.572       3 3 -2
    ______________________________________

                  TABLE II
    ______________________________________
    X-Ray Diffraction Spectrum of Ba.sub.4.90 Eu.sub.0.10.sup.2+  SiO.sub.4
    Br.sub.6
    I         d.sub.obs. A
                          d.sub.calc. A
                                      h k l
    ______________________________________
    15        7.41        7.395       1 1 -1
    10        6.38        6.373       0 2 1
    15        5.80        5.836       0 0 2
    15        4.73        4.715       2 0 0
    50        4.28        4.296       1 1 2
    55        4.08        4.070       2 2 -1
    50        4.01        4.008       2 2 0
    30        3.84        3.841       1 1 -3
    10        3.81        3.804       0 4 0
    35        3.70        3.698       2 2 -2
    30        3.62        3.617       0 4 1
    30        3.35        3.357       1 3 2
    15        3.27        3.282       2 0 2
    70        3.182       3.186       0 4 2
    70        3.12        3.126       1 3 -3
    100       3.08        3.078       3 1 0
    30        3.00        3.014       2 2 2
    10        2.95        2.955       1 1 -4
    25        2.90        2.896       1 5 0
    35        2.86        2.864       1 5 -1
    100       2.83        2.829       2 4 -2
    70        2.81        2.809       3 1 1
    100       2.758       2.761       1 5 1
    70        2.720       2.724       0 2 4
    30        2.663       2.656       3 3 -2
    ______________________________________