A sintered phosphor-composite having a high internal quantum efficiency and a high transmittance is provided. The object can be achieved with a sintered phosphor-composite including a nitride phosphor and a fluoride inorganic binder, wherein, in cross-sectional observation, the sintered phosphor-composite includes at least a portion in which voids of not more than 1 m are present in a number of not more than 700 within a cross-sectional area of 0.046 mm.sup.2, or a portion having a void area fraction of not more than 3% within a cross-sectional area of 0.046 mm.sup.2.

A method is provided for producing a pulverulent precursor material of the general formula M1.sub.xM2.sub.y(Si,Al).sub.12(O,N).sub.16 or M1.sub.2-zM2.sub.zSi.sub.8Al.sub.4N.sub.16 having the method steps A) producing a pulverulent mixture of starting materials, B) calcining the mixture under a protective gas atmosphere and subsequent grinding, wherein in method step A) at least one nitride with a specific surface area of greater than 2 m.sup.2/g is selected as starting material. A pulverulent precursor material and the use thereof are additionally provided.

A method for enhancing luminescence of a luminous material, a substance detection method, a substance detection apparatus, and a luminescence enhancer are provided. A method for enhancing luminescence of a luminous material, the method including: holding, in a luminescence detection unit, the luminous material and a white colloidal particle both contained in a liquid; and irradiating the luminescence detection unit with light, in which the luminescence detection unit has an inner diameter of 300 m or less in an optical axis direction.

Phosphors include a CaAlSiN.sub.3 family crystal phase, wherein the CaAlSiN.sub.3 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.

A method is disclosed for forming a blended phosphor composition. The method includes the steps of firing precursor compositions that include europium and nitrides of at least calcium, strontium and aluminum, in a refractory metal crucible and in the presence of a gas that precludes the formation of nitride compositions between the nitride starting materials and the refractory metal that forms the crucible. The resulting compositions can include phosphors that convert frequencies in the blue portion of the visible spectrum into frequencies in the red portion of the visible spectrum.

A phosphor, combined with LED having not exceeding 470 nm, of high emission intensity and with chemical and thermal stability is provided. The phosphor according to the present invention comprises an inorganic compound in which element A (A is one or two or more kinds of elements selected from Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, and Yb) is solid solved in an inorganic crystal including at least metal element M and non-metal element X and represented by M.sub.nX.sub.n+1 (3n5), an inorganic crystal having the same crystal structure, or an inorganic crystal including a solid solution thereof. Here, M comprises at least Al and Si, and if necessary element L (L is a metal element other than Al and Si) and X comprises N, O if necessary, and element Z if necessary (Z is a non-metal element other than N and O).

There are provided a phosphor which is a divalent europium-activated oxynitride phosphor substantially represented by General formula (A): Eu.sub.aSi.sub.bAl.sub.cO.sub.dN.sub.e, a divalent europium-activated oxynitride phosphor substantially represented by General formula (B): MI.sub.fEu.sub.gSi.sub.hAl.sub.kO.sub.mN.sub.n or a divalent europium-activated nitride phosphor substantially represented by General formula (C): (MII.sub.1-pEu.sub.p)MIIISiN.sub.3, having a reflectance of light emission in a longer wavelength region of visible light than a peak wavelength of 95% or larger, and a method of producing such phosphor; a nitride phosphor and an oxynitride phosphor which emit light efficiently and stably by the light having a wavelength ranging from 430 to 480 nm from a semiconductor light emitting device by means of a light emitting apparatus using such phosphor, and a producing method of such phosphor; and a light emitting apparatus having stable characteristics and realizing high efficiency.

Materials comprising minerals having modified surface properties, related methods, and their use in products. Materials for use in products may comprise a mineral and a carbonate, such as a precipitated calcium carbonate. Decorating the mineral with the precipitated calcium carbonate may modify a surface property of the mineral, such as, for example, absorptivity, reactivity, or fluorescence.

The present invention relates to a reliable, robust and sensitive platform aimed to analyze the massive kinetic profile of new molecules against its main target and also against other potential targets. Thus, the present invention relates to a method for calculating the kinetic profile of a compound of interest against a target protein or polyprotein wherein it is not needed to predetermine the K.sub.i value of the compound of interest against the target protein or polyprotein before starting the assay. The present invention also discloses the use of said method in a high-throughput system for developing a Binding Kinetic Profiling assay of multiple compounds of interest against a unique target, or a

Kinetic Selectivity Profiling assay of one selected compound against multiple target proteins or polyproteins to therefore establish multiple clinical profiles of potential drugs.

Provided herein are methods and compositions which allow for efficient inspection, maintenance and repair of ceramic coatings.