A lighting apparatus for emitting white light including a semiconductor light source emitting radiation with a peak emission between from about 250 nm to about 500 nm and a first phosphor having a peak emission between about 550 and 615 nm, wherein an overall emission spectrum of the lighting apparatus has a depression between about 550 and 615 nm, whereby the red-green color contrast is increased versus a reference illuminant.

A phosphor for low-pressure discharge lamps is disclosed, wherein the phosphor is present in the form of phosphor grains coated with a protective layer, wherein the protective layer consists of a metal oxide, a metal borate, a metal phosphate or mixtures thereof.

Compositions, devices, and methods for optimizing photosynthetically active radiation by utilizing a composition comprising a quantum confinement material having an emission spectra of between 300 nm and 545 nm, and a quantum confinement material having an emission spectra of between 545 nm and 750 nm where the composition may be embedded in and/or coated on one or more transparent surfaces.

A red phosphor material includes an essential component represented by a formula of A.sub.2-2xR.sub.xEu.sub.ySm.sub.zLn.sub.x-y-zM.sub.2O.sub.8 as a main component, where A represents at least one selected from Ca and Sr; R represents at least one selected from Li, Na, and K; Ln represents at least one selected from La, Gd, and Y; M represents at least one selected from W and Mo; and x, y, and z are numerical values that satisfy 0.2x0.7, 0.2y+z0.6, 0.005z0.04, and xyz0. A light-emitting device includes an excitation light source and the red phosphor material that absorbs excitation light emitted by the excitation light source and emits red light.

The invention relates to europium or samarium-doped terbium molybdates, to a method for producing said compounds, and to the use of the claimed europium or samarium-doped terbium molybdates as conversion lumiophores. The invention also relates to a light-emitting device containing a claimed europium or samarium-doped terbium molybdate.

A process for ultrasensitive in vitro detection and/or quantification of a substance of interest in a sample is performed by detecting the luminescence emission by photoluminescent inorganic nanoparticles. The process includes (i) use of photoluminescent particles comprising a photoluminescent inorganic nanoparticle consisting of a crystalline matrix having at least 10.sup.3 rare-earth ions, and coupled to a targeting agent for the substance to be analyzed, under conditions conducive to their association with the sample substance to be analyzed; (ii) exciting the rare-earth ions of the particles by an illumination device having a power of at least 50 mW and an excitation intensity of at least 1 W/cm.sup.2; (iii) detecting the luminescence emission by the particles after single-photon absorption; and (iv) determining the presence and/or concentration of the substance by interpreting said luminescence measurement. This process can be used for in vitro diagnostic purposes and as an in vitro diagnostic kit.

The present invention relates to a luminescent ink having a composition in % by weight comprising 20-55% of solvent, 5-55% of diluent; 2-15% of dispersant additive; 5-35% of solid particles with fluorescent properties, and 0.5-15% of solid dopant particles. The invention also relates to a process for obtaining a ceramic product with a printed luminescent label which incorporates a step in which digital printing is performed with said luminescent ink, this printing being applied on the surface substrate of the unfired ceramic part; and wherein the printing is performed with a digital printing machine; subjecting the ceramic part to a subsequent heat treatment in a conventional ceramic furnace at a temperature comprised between 650 and 1400 C.; and obtaining a fired ceramic product comprising a luminescent label visible with ultraviolet light. The invention also relates to a ceramic product obtainable by means of said process for obtaining a ceramic product, as well as to the use of the ink for printing luminescent labels that glow under ultraviolet light on ceramic products.