A phosphor contains a crystal phase having a chemical composition Ce.sub.xM.sub.3-x-yβ.sub.6γ.sub.11-z. M is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu. β contains Si in an amount of 50 mol % or more of a total mol of β. γcontains N in an amount of 80 mol % or more N of a total mol of γ. x satisfies 0<x≦0.6. y satisfies 0≦y≦1.0. z satisfies 0≦z≦1.0. The phosphor shows a maximum peak of an emission spectrum in a wavelength range of 600 nm or more and 800 nm or less and a first peak of an excitation spectrum in a wavelength range of 500 nm or more and 600 nm or less.

Provided is a fluorescent material with high brightness. The fluorescent material includes a nitride fluorescent material comprising La, Ce, Si, and N; and a first phosphorus compound disposed on a surface of the nitride fluorescent material. The first phosphorus compound includes at least one selected from the group consisting of lanthanum phosphate, lanthanum hydrogen phosphate, and hydrates thereof. A content of phosphorus atoms in the fluorescent material is 0.07% by mass or higher and 0.8% by mass or lower.

Provided is a wavelength conversion member that is less decreased in luminescence intensity with time by irradiation with light of an LED or LD and a light emitting device using the wavelength conversion member. A wavelength conversion member is formed of an inorganic phosphor dispersed in a glass matrix, wherein the glass matrix contains, in % by mole, 30 to 85% SiO.sub.2, 0 to 20% B.sub.2O.sub.3, 0 to 25% Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 0 to 3% Li.sub.2O, 0 to 3% Na.sub.2O, 0 to 3% K.sub.2O, 0 to 3% Li.sub.2O+Na.sub.2O+K.sub.2O, 0 to 35% MgO, 0 to 35% CaO, 0 to 35% SrO, 0 to 35% BaO, 0.1 to 45% MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO, and 0 to 4% ZnO, and the inorganic phosphor is at least one selected from the group consisting of an oxide phosphor, a nitride phosphor, an oxynitride phosphor, a chloride phosphor, an oxychloride phosphor, a halide phosphor, an aluminate phosphor, and a halophosphate phosphor.

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of luminescent materials, and more particularly, to a nitride luminescent material and a light emitting device comprising the luminescent material. The nitride luminescent material recited in the present disclosure includes an inorganic compound with the structural composition R.sub.wQ.sub.xSi.sub.yN.sub.z, the excitation wavelength of the luminescent material is between 300-650 nm, and the emission main peak of the NIR light region is broadband emission between 900-1100 nm; the excitation wavelength of the luminescent material is relatively broad and capable of excellent absorption of ultraviolet visible light, and has more intensive NIR emission as compared with NIR organic luminescent materials and inorganic luminescent materials of other systems, so it is an ideal application material for NIR devices.

The wavelength converter includes a support, and a wavelength conversion layer disposed on the support. The wavelength conversion layer contains a fluorescent layer containing a fluorescent material with a composition represented by formula (1) below, and having a thickness of from 5 μm to 155 μm. A ratio of a sum of cross-sectional areas of particles of the fluorescent material in a cross-section of the wavelength conversion layer orthogonal to a disposed surface of the wavelength conversion layer that is disposed on the support and including a full width of the wavelength conversion layer to a cross-sectional area of the cross-section of the wavelength conversion layer is from 5% to 40%. In the formula (1), M.sup.1 is at least one selected from the rare earth elements other than La and Ce; a total amount of yttrium (Y), gadolinium (Gd), and lutetium (Lu) by mole with respect to a total amount of M.sup.1 by mole is 90% or more; and p, q, r, and s satisfy 2.7≤p+q+r≤3.3, 0≤r≤1.2, 10≤s≤12, and 0<q≤1.2.
La.sub.pCe.sub.qM.sup.1.sub.rSi.sub.6N.sub.s  (1)

Provided is a wavelength conversion member that is less decreased in luminescence intensity with time by irradiation with light of an LED or LD and a light emitting device using the wavelength conversion member. A wavelength conversion member is formed of an inorganic phosphor dispersed in a glass matrix, wherein the glass matrix contains, in % by mole, 30 to 85% SiO.sub.2, 0 to 20% B.sub.2O.sub.3, 0 to 25% Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 0 to 3% Li.sub.2O, 0 to 3% Na.sub.2O, 0 to 3% K.sub.2O, 0 to 3% Li.sub.2O+Na.sub.2O+K.sub.2O, 0 to 35% MgO, 0 to 35% CaO, 0 to 35% SrO, 0 to 35% BaO, 0.1 to 45% MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO, and 0 to 4% ZnO, and the inorganic phosphor is at least one selected from the group consisting of an oxide phosphor, a nitride phosphor, an oxynitride phosphor, a chloride phosphor, an oxychloride phosphor, a halide phosphor, an aluminate phosphor, and a halophosphate phosphor.

Provided is a phosphor having superior light-emitting properties. A phosphor composition includes: a nitride phosphor that contains, in a composition thereof, an element M that is at least one selected from the group consisting of rare earth elements except cerium, silicon, nitrogen, and cerium; and an oxyfluoride. In the phosphor composition, a content of the oxyfluoride relative to the phosphor composition is 1.5% by mass or higher and 10% by mass or lower according to an X-ray diffraction reference intensity ratio method.

Provided is a wavelength conversion member that is less decreased in luminescence intensity with time by irradiation with light of an LED or LD and a light emitting device using the wavelength conversion member. A wavelength conversion member is formed of an inorganic phosphor dispersed in a glass matrix, wherein the glass matrix contains, in % by mole, 30 to 85% SiO.sub.2, 4.3 to 20% B.sub.2O.sub.3, 0 to 25% Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 0 to 3% Li.sub.2O, 0 to 3% Na.sub.2O, 0 to 3% K.sub.2O, 0 to 3% Li.sub.2O+Na.sub.2O+K.sub.2O, 0 to 35% MgO, 0 to 35% CaO, 0 to 35% SrO, 0 to 35% BaO, 0.1 to 45% MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO, and 0 to 5% ZnO, and the inorganic phosphor is at least one selected from the group consisting of an oxide phosphor, a nitride phosphor, an oxynitride phosphor, a chloride phosphor, an oxychloride phosphor, a halide phosphor, an aluminate phosphor, and a halophosphate phosphor.

Awarm-color complex phosphor includes: a Ce.sup.3+-activated orange phosphor that has an excitation peak within a blue wavelength range of 440 nm or more and less than 480 nm and has a fluorescence peak within an orange wavelength range of 580 nm or more and less than 610 nm; and a Ce.sup.3+-activated red phosphor that has an excitation peak within a green wavelength range of 500 nm or more and less than 550 nm and has a fluorescence peak within a red wavelength range of 610 nm or more and less than 660 nm. Preferably, the Ce.sup.3+-activated red phosphor is a nitride-based compound.

Provided is a sintered phosphor-composite for an LED, having high heat resistance, high thermal conductivity, high luminance, and high conversion efficacy. In addition, there are provided: a light-emitting apparatus which uses the sintered phosphor-composite; and an illumination apparatus and a vehicular headlamp which use the light-emitting apparatus. The sintered phosphor-composite includes a nitride phosphor and a fluoride inorganic binder. The sintered phosphor-composite preferably has an internal quantum efficiency of 60% or more when excited by blue light having a wavelength of 450 nm. Further, the sintered phosphor-composite preferably has a transmittance of 20% or more at a wavelength of 700 nm.