General Electric Company
METHOD TO ENHANCE PHOSPHOR ROBUSTNESS AND DISPERSABILITY AND RESULTING PHOSPHORS

Abstract:

Briefly, in one aspect, the present invention relates to processes for producing a stabilized Mn.sup.4+ doped phosphor in solid form and a composition containing such doped phosphor. Such process may include combining a) a solution comprising at least one substance selected from the group consisting of: K.sub.2HPO.sub.4, an aluminum phosphate, oxalic acid, phosphoric acid, a surfactant, a chelating agent, or a combination thereof, with b) a Mn.sup.4+ doped phosphor of formula I in solid form, where formula I may be: A.sub.x [MF.sub.y]:Mn.sup.4+. The process can further include isolating the stabilized Mn.sup.4+ doped phosphor in solid form. In formula I, A may be Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, or a combination thereof. In formula I, M may be Si, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr, Al, Ga, In, Sc, Y, La, Nb, Ta, Bi, Gd, or a combination thereof. In formula I, x is the absolute value of the charge of the [MF.sub.y] ion and y is 5, 6 or 7.