A glass having from greater than or equal to about 0.1 mol. % to less than or equal to about 20 mol. % Ho.sub.2O.sub.3, and one or more chromophores selected from V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Se, Pr, Nd, Er, Yb, and combinations thereof. The amount of Ho.sub.2O.sub.3 (mol. %) is greater than or equal to 0.7 (CeO.sub.2 (mol. %)+Pr.sub.2O.sub.3 (mol. %)+Er.sub.2O.sub.3 (mol. %)). The glass can include one or more fluorescent ions selected from Cu, Sn, Ce, Eu, Tb, Tm, and combinations thereof in addition to, or in place of the chromophores. The glass can also include multiple fluorescent ions.

An article comprising a luminescent nanoparticle is described, wherein the luminescent nanoparticle is selected from the group consisting of oxide nanoparticles, aluminate nanoparticles, and germanate nanoparticles; and wherein the luminescent nanoparticle is doped with one or more metals or rare-earth elements. A method of making a luminescent nanoparticle is also described, the method comprising the steps of: providing a nanoparticle, doping the nanoparticle with one or more chemical elements, heating the nanoparticle to a temperature of between about 1000? C. and about 1200? C. to alter the crystal structure of the nanoparticle and/or to create oxygen vacancies in the nanoparticle. A persistent luminescent nanoparticle is described, said persistent luminescent nanoparticle being selected from the group consisting of: LaAlO.sub.3 nanoparticles, Gd.sub.2O.sub.3 nanoparticles, SrAl.sub.2O.sub.4 nanoparticles, Y.sub.2O.sub.3 nanoparticles, and combinations thereof; wherein the nanoparticle is doped with about 1% or less of a chemical element selected from the group consisting of: holmium, europium, ytterbium, neodymium, magnesium, and combinations thereof.

This technology is directed to the preparation of doped-bismuth-silicate seed crystals through controlled crystallization (e.g. dimensionality of growth and nucleation mechanism) and the method of forming high purity single seed (particle size ranges from micrometers to millimeters) for various uses. These seed crystals have a nominal stoichiometry of Bi.sub.2-xA.sub.xSiO.sub.5, Bi.sub.2-xA.sub.xSi.sub.3O.sub.9, Bi.sub.4-xA.sub.xSi.sub.3O.sub.9, and Bi.sub.12-xA.sub.xSiO.sub.20, where A is a rare earth dopant selected from La, Ce, Nd, Pr, and/or Sm.

A nitride phosphor particle dispersion-type sialon ceramic of the present invention includes a matrix formed of a sialon-based compound; and at least one nitride phosphor which is dispersed in the matrix and contains a luminescence center element.

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).

Provided are a phosphor emitting light having a wavelength of 600 nm or more in the red-to-nearinfrared range when irradiated with visible light or ultraviolet light; a method for producing same; a light emitting element using same; and a light emitting device using same. The phosphor includes an inorganic compound including A element, M element, D element, E element (A is at least one element selected from the group of Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba; M is at least one element selected from the group of Mn, Eu, Ce, Nd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Yb; D is Si and/or Al; and E is O and/or N) and, if necessary, G element (G is Li), and represented by (A, M).sub.aD.sub.dE.sub.eG.sub.g, (atomic fraction parameters a, d, e and g satisfy 2.4?a?4.8, 17.4?d?22.2, 26.2?e?28.6 and 0?g?3).

A glass having from greater than or equal to about 0.1 mol. % to less than or equal to about 20 mol. % Ho.sub.2O.sub.3, and one or more chromophores selected from V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Se, Pr, Nd, Er, Yb, and combinations thereof. The amount of Ho.sub.2O.sub.3 (mol. %) is greater than or equal to 0.7(CeO.sub.2 (mol. %)+Pr.sub.2O.sub.3 (mol. %)+Er.sub.2O.sub.3 (mol. %)). The glass can include one or more fluorescent ions selected from Cu, Sn, Ce, Eu, Tb, Tm, and combinations thereof in addition to, or in place of the chromophores. The glass can also include multiple fluorescent ions.