| abstract |
Phosphor that can provide white LED that uses a blue LED or an ultraviolet LED as a light source and that has superior luminous efficiency. This phosphor includes, as a main component, α-type sialon represented by a general expression: (M1)x(M2)y(Si,Al) 12 (O,N) 16 (where M1 is one or more types of elements selected from a group consisting of Li, Mg, Ca, Y, and lanthanide element (except for La and Ce) and M2 is one or more types of elements selected from a group consisting of Ce, Pr, Eu, Tb, Yb, and Er, and 0.3≦X+Y≦1.5 and 0<Y≦0.7 are established and the sialon phosphor consists of a powder having a specific surface area of 0.2 to 0.5 m 2 /g. |