A coating composition includes: (i) a film-forming resin; (ii) an infrared reflective pigment; and (iii) an infrared fluorescent pigment or dye different from the infrared reflective pigment. A multi-layer coating including the coating composition, and a substrate at least partially coated with the coating composition is also disclosed. A method of detecting an article at least partially coated with the coating composition is also disclosed.

This invention provides a groundbreaking approach to PLNPs and their preparation. In particular, the synthetic methodology disclosed herein fundamentally differs from the traditional solid-state annealing reactions that require extreme and harsh reaction conditions. In one unique aspect of the invention, a simple, one-step mesoporous template method utilizing mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) is disclosed that affords in vivo rechargeable NIR-emitting mesoporous PLNPs with uniform size and morphology. In another unique aspect of the invention, the novel synthetic approach is based on aqueous-phase chemical reactions conducted in mild conditions, resulting in uniform and homogeneous PLNPs with desired size control (e.g., sub-10 nm).

This invention provides a groundbreaking approach to PLNPs and their preparation. In particular, the synthetic methodology disclosed herein fundamentally differs from the traditional solid-state annealing reactions that require extreme and harsh reaction conditions. In one unique aspect of the invention, a simple, one-step mesoporous template method utilizing mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) is disclosed that affords in vivo rechargeable NIR-emitting mesoporous PLNPs with uniform size and morphology. In another unique aspect of the invention, the novel synthetic approach is based on aqueous-phase chemical reactions conducted in mild conditions, resulting in uniform and homogeneous PLNPs with desired size control (e.g., sub-10 nm).

Lighting systems, methods, and devices for protecting human circadian neuroendocrine function during night use are described. Suitable lighting conditions can be provided for a working environment while protecting the circadian neuroendocrine systems of those occupying the illuminated workplace during the night. Lighting systems, methods, and devices can provide substantive attenuation of the pathologic circadian disruption in night workers. Lighting systems, methods, and devices can attenuate the specific bands of light implicated in circadian disruption. LED lighting systems, methods, and devices can provide increased intensity at a different portion of the spectrum than conventional LEDs, providing a useable white light even when unfavorable portions of the wavelength are attenuated by a notch filter. LED lighting systems, methods, and devices can switch between a daytime configuration and a night time configuration, wherein the daytime configuration provides unfiltered light and the night time configuration provides filtered light.

Lighting systems, methods, and devices for protecting human circadian neuroendocrine function during night use are described. Suitable lighting conditions can be provided for a working environment while protecting the circadian neuroendocrine systems of those occupying the illuminated workplace during the night. Lighting systems, methods, and devices can provide substantive attenuation of the pathologic circadian disruption in night workers. Lighting systems, methods, and devices can attenuate the specific bands of light implicated in circadian disruption. LED lighting systems, methods, and devices can provide increased intensity at a different portion of the spectrum than conventional LEDs, providing a useable white light even when unfavorable portions of the wavelength are attenuated by a notch filter. LED lighting systems, methods, and devices can switch between a daytime configuration and a night time configuration, wherein the daytime configuration provides unfiltered light and the night time configuration provides filtered light.

Nanophosphors are provided comprising a nanoparticle core having an attached shell of smaller silicon nanoparticles attached via hydrogen bonding. Example methods for forming a nanophosphor comprise providing a silicon nanoparticle (SiNp) colloid including Si nanoparticles, and transferring the colloid to a solid state comprising silica and/or phosphor particles. Drying is allowed such that the Si nanoparticles form a coating on the particles with hydrogen bonds.

A dimmable light source for emitting white overall radiation may include a dimmer and a light-emitting diode. The dimmer may vary a current intensity of a current for operating the light-emitting diode during the operation of the light source. The LED may include a semiconductor layer sequence to emit primary radiation, and the LED may further include a conversion element configured to at least partially convert the primary radiation into secondary radiation having a first emission band with a first emission maximum ranging from 400 nm to 500 nm and a second emission band with a second emission maximum ranging from 510 nm to 700 nm. A relative intensity of the first emission band may reduce with decreasing current intensity of the current for operating the LED, and a relative intensity of the second emission band may increase with decreasing current intensity of the current for operating the LED.

A coating composition includes: (i) a film-forming resin; (ii) an infrared reflective pigment; and (iii) an infrared fluorescent pigment different from the infrared reflective pigment. When the coating composition is cured to form a coating and exposed to radiation comprising fluorescence-exciting radiation, the coating has a greater effective solar reflectance (ESR) compared to the same coating exposed to the radiation comprising fluorescence-exciting radiation except without the infrared fluorescent pigment. A multi-layer coating including the coating composition, and a substrate at least partially coated with the coating composition is also disclosed. A method of reducing temperature of an article includes applying the coating composition to at least a portion of the article.

A device including an LED light source optically coupled to a phosphor material including a green-emitting phosphor selected from the group consisting of compositions of (A1)-(A70), and combinations thereof.

Provided is a phosphor, which is excited by a wide band of visible light, capable of emitting near-infrared light of high intensity. The phosphor comprises a crystal phase represented by a formula (1): MCuSi.sub.2O.sub.6 (where M comprises one or more of Ba, Sr and Ca), and a crystal phase represented by a formula (2): MCuSi.sub.4O.sub.10 (where M comprises one or more of Ba, Sr and Ca), wherein a ratio of a diffraction peak intensity of MCuSi.sub.4O.sub.10 with respect to a diffraction peak intensity of MCuSi.sub.2O.sub.6 in an X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern obtained by powder XRD measurement using CuK rays is 0<0.50.