An emission enhancement structure having at least one energy augmentation structure; and an energy converter capable of receiving energy from an energy source, converting the energy and emitting therefrom a light of a different energy than the received energy. The energy converter is disposed in a vicinity of the at least one energy augmentation structure such that the emitted light is emitted with an intensity larger than if the converter were remote from the at least one energy augmentation structure. Also described are various uses for the energy emitters, energy augmentation structures and energy collectors in a wide array of fields, especially in the field of solar cells and other energy conversion devices.

A multicolor light-storing ceramic for fire-protection indication and a preparation method thereof are provided. The preparation method includes: adding a glass based raw material, a light-storing powder, a dispersant and an alumina powder into a granulator, adding water mixed with a pore-forming agent and then mechanically stirring for granulation; adding a plasticizer after the stirring of 4˜8 h, and continuing the stirring for 1˜3 h to thereby obtain a mixture; packing the mixture into a mold and performing tableting; demolding and obtaining a light-storing self-luminous quartz ceramic by drying and firing using a kiln; printing a pattern onto a surface of the ceramic and then curing to obtain a light-storing ceramic for indication sign. Using an industrial waste glass has advantages of low sintering temperature and green environmental protection; dispersed pores and alumina introduced as scattering sources improves light absorption efficiency, fluorescence output phase ratio and light transmission of the ceramic.

A phosphor is represented by a chemical formula of Lu.sub.(3-x-z)Mg.sub.xZn.sub.yAl.sub.(5-y)O.sub.12:Ce.sub.z, in which in a case where z is in a range of 0.01≤z≤0.03, x and y respectively satisfy 0<x≤1.4 and 0<y≤1.4, in a case where z is in a range of 0.03<z≤0.06, x and y respectively satisfy y<0.2 and 0.1≤x≤1.4, x<0.2 and 0.1≤y≤1.4, or x=0.2 and y=0.2, in a case where z is in a range of 0.06<z≤0.09, x and y respectively satisfy y<0.2 and 0.1≤x<1.4, or x<0.2 and 0.1≤y<1.4, and in a case where z is in a range of 0.09<z≤0.12, x and y respectively satisfy y<0.2 and 0.1≤x<0.9, or x<0.2 and 0.1≤y<0.9.

An α-sialon phosphor represented by general formula: M.sub.xEu.sub.y(Si,Al).sub.12(O,N).sub.16, where M represents at least one or more elements selected from Li, Mg, Ca, Y and a lanthanoid (excluding La and Ce), 0<x, and 0<y, where the phosphor includes, as a host crystal, a crystal structure identical to that of an α-sialon crystal phase, and the phosphor has a bulk density of 1.00 g/cm.sup.3 or more and 1.80 g/cm.sup.3 or less. Also provided is a light-emitting element including the α-sialon phosphor and a semiconductor light-emitting element capable of exciting the α-sialon phosphor.

Provided are a method for producing a ceramic composite material that has a high light emission intensity, a ceramic composite material, and a light emitting device. The method for producing a ceramic composite material, includes: preparing a green body containing a nitride fluorescent material having a composition represented by the following chemical formula (I) and aluminum oxide particles mixed with each other; and performing primary sintering the green body at a temperature in a range of 1,250° C. or more and 1,600° C. or less to provide a first sintered body:
M.sub.wLn.sup.1.sub.xA.sub.yN.sub.z  (I)
wherein in the chemical formula (I), M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ce and Pr; Ln.sup.1 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu; A represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si and B; and w, x, y, and z each satisfy 0<w≤1.0, 2.5≤x≤3.5, 5.5≤y≤6.5, and 10≤z≤12.

A scintillation compound can include a rare earth element that is in a divalent (RE.sup.2+) or a tetravalent state (RE.sup.4+). The scintillation compound can include another element to allow for better change balance. The other element may be a principal constituent of the scintillation compound or may be a dopant or a co-dopant. In an embodiment, a metal element in a trivalent state (M.sup.3+) may be replaced by RE.sup.4+ and a metal element in a divalent state (M.sup.2+). In another embodiment, M.sup.3+ may be replaced by RE.sup.2+ and M.sup.4+. In a further embodiment, M.sup.2+ may be replaced by a RE.sup.3+ and a metal element in a monovalent state (M.sup.1+). The metal element used for electronic charge balance may have a single valance state, rather than a plurality of valence states, to help reduce the likelihood that the valance state would change during formation of the scintillation compound.

A charged particle detection material which can detect charged particles due to a discharge phenomenon or the like caused even in a very low voltage which cannot be observed by a prior art, as well as a charged particle detection film and a charged particle detection liquid using the material. The charged particle detection material and the charged particle detection film contain at least one of a fluorescent substance, a luminescent substance, an electroluminescent substance, a fractoluminescent substance, a photochromic substance, an afterglow substance, a photostimulated luminescent substance and a mechanoluminescent substance and can easily detect emission or incidence of charged particles in real time.

A phosphor is represented by a chemical formula of Lu.sub.(3-x-z)Mg.sub.xZn.sub.yAl.sub.(5-y)O.sub.12:Ce.sub.z, in which in a case where z is in a range of 0.01≤z≤0.03, x and y respectively satisfy 0<x≤1.4 and 0<y≤1.4, in a case where z is in a range of 0.03<z≤0.06, x and y respectively satisfy y<0.2 and 0.1≤x≤1.4, x<0.2 and 0.1≤y≤1.4, or x=0.2 and y=0.2, in a case where z is in a range of 0.06<z≤0.09, x and y respectively satisfy y<0.2 and 0.1≤x<1.4, or x<0.2 and 0.1≤y<1.4, and in a case where z is in a range of 0.09<z≤0.12, x and y respectively satisfy y<0.2 and 0.1≤x<0.9, or x<0.2 and 0.1≤y<0.9.

Provided is a method for producing a fluorescent material, including: preparing a raw material mixture including a compound containing at least one rare earth element Ln selected from the group consisting of Y, Gd, La, Lu, Sc and Sm, a compound containing at least one Group 13 element selected from Al and Ga, a compound containing Tb, a compound containing Ce and a compound containing Eu, wherein the raw material mixture contains each compound such that each element satisfies a composition represented by the following formula (I): (Ln.sub.1-a-b-cTb.sub.aCe.sub.bEU.sub.c).sub.3(Al.sub.1-dGa.sub.d).sub.5O.sub.12 (I), wherein a, b, c and d satisfy 0.25a<1, 0.00810.sup.2b1.510.sup.2, 0.01210.sup.2c210.sup.2, and 0d0.85, and heat-treating the raw material mixture to obtain the fluorescent material.

An -sialon phosphor represented by general formula: M.sub.xEu.sub.y(Si,Al).sub.12(O,N).sub.16, where M represents at least one or more elements selected from Li, Mg, Ca, Y and a lanthanoid (excluding La and Ce), 0<x, and 0<y, where the phosphor includes, as a host crystal, a crystal structure identical to that of an -sialon crystal phase, and the phosphor has a bulk density of 1.00 g/cm.sup.3 or more and 1.80 g/cm.sup.3 or less. Also provided is a light-emitting element including the -sialon phosphor and a semiconductor light-emitting element capable of exciting the -sialon phosphor.