Provided are a fluorescent material and a light emitting device using the fluorescent material. The fluorescent material has 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 Ln represents at least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of Y, Gd, La, Lu, Sc and Sm, and parameters 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.

[Problem]

To provide 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.

[Solution]

The charged particle detection material and the charged particle detection film according to the present invention 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 method for manufacturing long lasting phosphorescent fabrics and articles of clothing including fabric for use in fields such as security, domestic, sports, health, professional, etc., includes (i) preparing a composition for dyeing having a strontium aluminate pigment doped with europium and dysprosium; (ii) coating a starting fabric with the composition by air knife coating or cylinder; (iii) drying; and (iv) polymerizing. The fabrics thus obtained have long lasting phosphorescent properties and a high resistance to washing, maintaining the factory specifications of the starting fabric with respect to its mechanical properties, comfort, breathability and/or high visibility properties, if relevant.

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 photoelectric conversion compound is provided. The photoelectric conversion compound has a structure represented by formula (I): ##STR00001## wherein D represents an inorganic luminescent group; each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-6 alkyl group; R.sup.4 represents a single bond or a C.sub.1-6 alkylene group; m represents an integer of 1-10; k represents an integer of 1-1,000; and n represents an integer of 1-10,000.

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, such as color enhancement, and color enhancement structures containing the same.

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.

The invention relates to a persistent phosphorescent ceramic composite material which is a sintered dense body comprising two or more phases, a first phase consisting of at least one metal oxide and a second phase consisting of a metal oxide containing at least one activating element in a reduced oxidation state. The invention furthermore relates to a method for the preparation of a phosphorescent ceramic composite material as defined in any of the previous claims, the method comprising the following steps: preparing a mixture of a metal oxide and a phosphor; fabricating a green body from the mixture; and heat treating the green body in a reducing atmosphere.

In some embodiments, there may be provided a luminescent material or a persistent luminescent (PersL) material that is used to redistribute sunlight. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.