| abstract |
This specification discloses methods of enhancing the stability and performance of Eu2+ doped narrow band red emitting phosphors. In one embodiment the resulting phosphor compositions are characterized by crystallizing in ordered structure variants of the UCr4C4 crystal structure type and having a composition of AE1-xLi3-2yAl1+2y-zSizO4-4y-zN4y+z:Eux (AE = Ca, Sr, Ba, or a combination thereof; 0 < x < 0.04, 0 ≤ y < 1, 0 < z < 0.05, y+z ≤ 1). It is believed that the formal substitution (Al,O)+ by (Si,N)+ reduces the concentration of unwanted Eu3+ and thus enhances properties of the phosphor such as stability and conversion efficiency. |