US6039894A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Production of substantially monodisperse phosphor particles
Assignee: SRI International Inc
•
Filing: 1997-12-05
•
Granted: 2000-03-21
•
Expires: 2017-12-05
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a method for producing activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles and particles formed thereby. The method suspends substantially monodisperse, phosphor-precursor particles in a fluidizing gas and then introduces a reactive gas to contact the suspended phosphor-precursor particles. Heating the suspended phosphor-precursor particles to a reaction temperature then forms unactivated phosphorescent particles. In another embodiment, the phosphor-precursor particles may be heated to a reaction temperature where they decompose to form the unactivated phosphor particles. The unactivated phosphorescent particles suspended within the fluidizing gas are activated by heating the unactivated phosphorescent particles to an activation temperature forming activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles.
Inventors
- 👤 Angel Sanjurjo
- 👤 Kai-Hung Lau
- 👤 David Lowe
- 👤 Anastasia Canizales
- 👤 Naixiong Jiang
- 👤 Victor Wong
- 👤 Liqiang Jiang
- 👤 Luke V. Schneider
- 👤 Naheed Mufti
- 👤 Robert T. Rewick
- 👤 Marie Johansson
- 👤 Keith Kardos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:41
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K11/00; C09K11/08; C09K11/0805; C09K11/0827
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for producing activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles comprising the steps of: suspending substantially monodisperse, phosphor-precursor particles in a fluidizing gas; introducing a reactive gas to contact the suspended phosphor-precursor particles; heating the suspended phosphor-precursor particles to a reaction temperature sufficient to form unactivated phosphorescent particles; discontinuing the introduction of the reactive gas; and activating the unactivated phosphorescent particles suspended within the fluidizing gas by heating the unactivated phosphorescent particles to an activation temperature to form activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles, wherein the activation temperature is greater than or equal to the reaction temperature and wherein the reaction temperature ranges from about 500 to about 900° C.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for producing activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles comprising the steps of: suspending substantially monodisperse, phosphor-precursor particles in a fluidizing gas; introducing a reactive gas to contact the suspended phosphor-precursor particles; heating the suspended phosphor-precursor particles to a reaction temperature sufficient to form unactivated phosphorescent particles; discontinuing the introduction of the reactive gas; and activating the unactivated phosphorescent particles suspended within the fluidizing gas by heating the unactivated phosphorescent particles to an activation temperature to form activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles, wherein the activation temperature is greater than or equal to the reaction temperature and wherein the reaction temperature ranges from about 500 to about 900° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 1, wherein the reactive gas is introduced in conjunction with the fluidizing gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of claim 1, further comprising prior to the activation step, the steps of discontinuing the fluidizing gas from the suspension step; and introducing a second fluidizing gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of claim 3, wherein the unactivated phosphorescent particles remain suspended while discontinuing the fluidizing gas from the suspension step and introducing the second fluidizing gas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of claim 1, wherein the reaction temperature ranges from about 500 to about 900° C. and the activation temperature ranges from about 800 to about 1600° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method of claim 1, after the activation step, further comprising the step of: contacting the suspended, activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles with a vaporized coating precursor at a coating temperature sufficient to form coated activated phosphorescent particles, and wherein the coating temperature is lower than the activation temperature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of claim 1, wherein the substantially, monodisperse, phosphor-precursor particles range in size from about 0.1 to about 50 microns, and the activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles range in size from about 0.1 to about 50 microns.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of claim 1, wherein the method steps are carried out in a fluidized bed reactor tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the phosphor-precursor particle is a hydroxycarbonate containing a metal ion selected from a group comprising lanthanide metal ions and actinide metal ions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the reactive gas is an oxygen containing gas and the activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles are oxide phosphorescent particles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the phosphor-precursor particles an oxide phosphor-precursor particles and the reactant gas is hydrogen sulfide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles are an sulfide phosphorescent particles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the phosphor-precursor particles are oxide phosphor-precursor particles and the reactant gas is a mixture of hydrogen sulfide and an oxidant selected from the group comprising H 2 O, O 2 , NO, N 2 O and mixtures thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles are oxysulfide phosphorescent particles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the phosphor-precursor particles are oxide phosphor-precursor particles and the reactant gas is a halide-containing gas.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the halide-containing gas is selected from a group comprising F 2 , SF 4 , SF 6 , HF, SiF 4 , TiF 4 , BrF 4 , BF 3 , ZrF 4 , CF 4 , SiF 4 --H 2 , BF 3 --H 2 O, SiCl 4 --H 2 O, InCl 3 --SnCl 4 .H 2 O, ZnCl 2 --AlCl 3 .H 2 O, ZnCl 2 --H 2 O and SnCl 4 --GaCl 3 .H 2 O.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles are oxyfluoride phosphorescent particles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the phosphor-precursor particles are zinc sulfide precursor particle and the reactant gas is a chlorine-containing gas.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 1, wherein the method steps are carried out in a moving bed reactor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of claim 1, wherein the activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles have a particle size of less than 1 micron.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of claim 1, wherein the substantially, monodisperse, phosphor-precursor particles range in size from about 0.1 to about 1.0 micron, and the activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles range in size from about 0.1 to about 1.0 micron.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for producing activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles comprising the steps of: suspending substantially monodisperse, phosphor-precursor particles in an inert fluidizing gas; introducing a reactive gas to contact the suspended phosphor-precursor particles; heating the suspended phosphor-precursor particles to a reaction temperature sufficient to form unactivated phosphorescent particles; and activating the unactivated phosphorescent particles suspended within the fluidizing gas by heating the unactivated phosphorescent particles to an activation temperature to form activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles having a particle size of less than about 10 microns, and wherein the activation temperature is greater than or equal to the reaction temperature.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for producing activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles comprising the steps of: suspending substantially monodisperse, phosphor-precursor particles in an inert fluidizing gas; introducing a reactive gas to contact the suspended phosphor-precursor particles; heating the suspended phosphor-precursor particles to a reaction temperature sufficient to form unactivated phosphorescent particles; and activating the unactivated phosphorescent particles suspended within the fluidizing gas by heating the unactivated phosphorescent particles to an activation temperature to form activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles having a particle size of less than about 10 microns, and wherein the activation temperature is greater than or equal to the reaction temperature.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 22, wherein the reactive gas is introduced in conjunction with the fluidizing gas.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of claim 22, further comprising, prior to the activation step, the step of introducing a second fluidizing gas.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of claim 24, wherein the unactivated phosphorescent particles remain suspended while discontinuing the fluidizing gas from the suspension step and introducing the second fluidizing gas.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of claim 22, wherein the reaction temperature ranges from about 500 to about 900° C. and the activation temperature ranges from about 800 to about 1600° C.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method of claim 22, after the activation step, further comprising the step of: contacting the suspended, activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles with a vaporized coating precursor at a coating temperature sufficient to form coated activated phosphorescent particles, and wherein the coating temperature is lower than the activation temperature.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of claim 22, wherein the method step are carried out in a fluidized bed reactor tube.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of claim 22, wherein the substantially, monodisperse, phosphor-precursor particles range in size from about 0.1 to about 1.0 micron, and the activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles range in size from about 0.1 to about 1.0 micron.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of claim 22, wherein the activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles have a particle size of less than 1 micron.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
58 words
A method for producing activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles comprising the steps of: suspending substantially monodisperse, unactivated phosphorescent particles in an inert fluidizing gas; and, activating the suspended, unactivated phosphorescent particles by heating the unactivated phosphorescent particles to an activation temperature to form activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles having a particle size of less than about 10 microns.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
58 words
A method for producing activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles comprising the steps of: suspending substantially monodisperse, unactivated phosphorescent particles in an inert fluidizing gas; and, activating the suspended, unactivated phosphorescent particles by heating the unactivated phosphorescent particles to an activation temperature to form activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles having a particle size of less than about 10 microns.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of claim 31, wherein the substantially, monodisperse, phosphor-precursor particles range in size from about 0.1 to about 1.0 micron, and the activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles range in size from about 0.1 to about 1.0 micron.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of claim 31, wherein the activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles have a particle size of less than 1 micron.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for producing activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles comprising the steps of: suspending substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent-precursor particles in an inert fluidizing gas; heating the suspended phosphorescent-precursor particles to a reaction temperature sufficient to decompose the phosphorescent-precursor particles and form unactivated phosphorescent particles; and activating the unactivated phosphorescent particles suspended within the fluidizing gas by heating the unactivated phosphorescent particles to an activation temperature to form activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles having a particle size of less than about 10 microns, and wherein the activation temperature is greater than or equal to the reaction temperature.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for producing activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles comprising the steps of: suspending substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent-precursor particles in an inert fluidizing gas; heating the suspended phosphorescent-precursor particles to a reaction temperature sufficient to decompose the phosphorescent-precursor particles and form unactivated phosphorescent particles; and activating the unactivated phosphorescent particles suspended within the fluidizing gas by heating the unactivated phosphorescent particles to an activation temperature to form activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles having a particle size of less than about 10 microns, and wherein the activation temperature is greater than or equal to the reaction temperature.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of claim 24, further comprising prior to the activation step, the steps of discontinuing the fluidizing gas from the suspension step; and introducing a second fluidizing gas.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of claim 24, wherein the unactivated phosphorescent particles remain suspended while discontinuing the fluidizing gas from the suspension step and introducing the second fluidizing gas.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of claim 34, wherein the reaction temperature ranges from about 500 to about 900° C. and the activation temperature ranges from about 800 to about 1600° C.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method of claim 34, after the activation step, further comprising the step of: contacting the suspended, activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles with a vaporized coating precursor at a coating temperature sufficient to form coated activated phosphorescent particles, and wherein the coating temperature is lower than the activation temperature.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of claim 34, wherein the method step are carried out in a fluidized bed reactor tube.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of claim 34, wherein the substantially, monodisperse, phosphor-precursor particles range in size from about 0.1 to about 1.0 micron, and the activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles range in size from about 0.1 to about 1.0 micron.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of claim 39, wherein the activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles have a particle size of less than 1 micron.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-21 | 2003-09-20 | 2004-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-21 | 2007-09-20 | 2008-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-21 | 2011-09-20 | 2012-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |