The present invention relates to the field of forehearth fits, pearls, and/or concentrates for use in glass compositions. In particular, the present invention provides a system of forehearth frits, pearls, and/or concentrates that is capable of parting a fluorescent effect to a glass composition by adding a fluorescent glass fit, pearl or concentrate in the forehearth of a glass furnace, to form fluorescent glass and a method of using the fluorescent system of forehearth fits, pearls, and/or concentrates.

Sunscreen additives for enhancing vitamin D production are provided herein. A method includes selecting phosphor materials to incorporate into zinc oxide particles, wherein the phosphor materials are capable of carrying out an up-conversion process whereby two or more photons absorbed by the zinc oxide particles and/or the phosphor materials within a first wavelength range are emitted as at least one photon within a second wavelength range. The method also includes incorporating the selected phosphor materials into the zinc oxide particles. A composition includes zinc oxide particles suspended within a medium of a sunscreen composition, and phosphor materials incorporated into the zinc oxide particles, wherein the phosphor materials are capable of carrying out an up-conversion process whereby two or more photons absorbed by the zinc oxide particles and/or the phosphor materials within a first wavelength range are emitted as at least one photon within a second wavelength range.

A double fluorescent particle comprises: a core with a first fluorescence; and a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) shell with a second fluorescence; wherein the MIP is an organic polymer comprising elements selected from the group consisting of: C, H, O, N, P, and S; wherein the MIP is adapted to selectively bind to a cell surface structure; wherein the first fluorescence is generated by an entity selected from the group consisting of: a carbon nanodot, an alkaline earth metal fluoride, a dye-doped polymer, a dye-doped stabilized micelle, a P-doti.e. a -conjugated polymer, a quantum dot doped polymer, a rare earth metal ion doped polymer, a dye-doped silica, a rare-earth ion doped silica, and a rare earth ion doped alkaline earth metal fluoride nanoparticle; wherein the second fluorescence is generated by an entity selected from the group consisting of: a dye, a molecular probe, an indicator, a probe monomer, an indicator monomer, and a cross-linker, and wherein the first and second fluorescence differ at least by an emission wavelength and/or by an excitation wavelength.

A device for converting solar radiation is described wherein the device comprises an inorganic luminescent material comprising a host material doped with Mn.sup.5+ ions for converting radiation of the UV and/or visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum into radiation of the near-infrared radiation part of the electromagnetic spectrum, preferably the infrared part between 1150 nm and 1250 nm, preferably around 1190 nm (the infrared emission peak of Mn.sup.5+); or, an amorphous host material doped with Sm.sup.2+ or Tm.sup.2+ ions, the amorphous host material including the elements Al, Si, O and N (SiAlON) for converting radiation of the UV and/or visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum into radiation of a longer wavelength, preferably a longer wavelength between 650 nm and 800 nm or a longer wavelength of around 1140 nm; and, at least one photovoltaic device for converting at least part of the converted radiation into electrical power.

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.

The present invention relates to Eu, Sm or Pr-doped silicate compounds, to a process for the preparation thereof and to the use thereof as conversion phosphors. The present invention also relates to an emission-converting material comprising at least the conversion phosphor according to the invention and to the use thereof in light sources, in particular pc-LEDs (phosphor converted light emitting devices). The present invention furthermore relates to light sources, in particular pc-LEDs, and lighting units which contain a primary light source and the emission-converting material according to the invention.

Sunscreen additives for enhancing vitamin D production are provided herein. A method includes selecting phosphor materials to incorporate into zinc oxide particles, wherein the phosphor materials are capable of carrying out an up-conversion process whereby two or more photons absorbed by the zinc oxide particles and/or the phosphor materials within a first wavelength range are emitted as at least one photon within a second wavelength range. The method also includes incorporating the selected phosphor materials into the zinc oxide particles. A composition includes zinc oxide particles suspended within a medium of a sunscreen composition, and phosphor materials incorporated into the zinc oxide particles, wherein the phosphor materials are capable of carrying out an up-conversion process whereby two or more photons absorbed by the zinc oxide particles and/or the phosphor materials within a first wavelength range are emitted as at least one photon within a second wavelength range.