Titanium activated hafnia and/or zirconia host phosphor containing neodymium

Claim 2

A phosphor capable of absorbing X-radiation and emitting longer wavelength radiation comprised of monoclinic crystals of a titanium activated hafnium dioxide and/or zirconium dioxide host consisting essentially of oxygen and combined elements satisfying the relationship DTi.sub.x M.sub.y Nd.sub.w wherein D represents at least one or zirconium and hafnium ions; M represents at least one alkali metal; w is in the range of from 5×10 -8 to 5×10 -4 ; x is in the range of from 3×10 -4 to 1.0; and y is up to 1; the phosphor exhibiting reduced afterglow when excited by X-radiation as compared to the phosphor as defined above absent neodymium.

Claim 3

A phosphor capable of absorbing X-radiation and emitting longer wavelength radiation comprised of monoclinic crystals of a titanium activated hafnium dioxide and/or zirconium dioxide host consisting essentially of oxygen and combined elements satisfying the relationship DTi.sub.x M.sub.y Nd.sub.w L.sub.v wherein D represents at least one of zirconium and hafnium ions; L represents at least one of samarium and europium; M represents at least one alkali metal; v is up to 5×10 -4 ; w is in the range of from 5×10 -8 to 5×10 -4 ; x is in the range of from 3×10 -4 to 1.0; and y is up to 1; the phosphor exhibiting (a) reduced afterglow when excited by X-radiation as compared to the phosphor as defined above absent neodumium, samarium and europium and (b) a higher prompt emission intensity when sararium and/or europium are present as compared to the phosphor defined above absent samarium and europium.

Claim 4

A phosphor capable of absorbing X-radiation and emitting longer wavelength radiation comprised of monoclinic crystals of a titanium activated hafnium dioxide and/or zirconium dioxide host consisting essentially of oxygen and combined elements satisfying the relationship DTi.sub.x M.sub.y Nd.sub.w L.sub.v wherein D represents at least one of zirconium and hafnium ions; L represents at least one of samarium and europium; M represents at least one alkali metal; v is up to 5×10 -4 ; w is in the range of from 5×10 -8 to 5×10 -4 ; x is in the range of from 3×10 -4 to 1.0; and y is up to 1; the phosphor exhibiting (a) reduced afterglow when excited by X-radiation as compared to the phosphor as defined above absent neodumium, samarium and europium and (b) a higher prompt emission intensity when sararium and/or europium are present as compared to the phosphor defined above absent samarium and europium.

Claim 5

A phosphor according to claim 1 or 2 in which D satisfies the relationship Hf.sub.1-z Zr.sub.z in which z is in the range of from 4×10 -4 to 0.3.

Claim 6

A phosphor according to claim 3 in which z is in the range of from 1×10 -3 to 0.2.

Claim 7

A phosphor according to claim 4 in which z is in the range of from 2×10 -3 to 0.1.

Claim 8

A phosphor according to claim 3 in which x is in the range of from 3×10 -4 to 0.25.

Claim 9

A phosphor according to claim 1 or 2 in which x is in the range of from 3×10 -4 to 0.5.

Claim 10

A phosphor according to claim 7 in which y is in the range of from 1×10 -4 to 2.

Claim 11

A phosphor according to claim 8 in which y is at least 8×10 -4 and the alkali metal ions include at least one of lithium, sodium, and potassium.

Claim 12

A phosphor according to claim 1 or 2 in which y is in the range of from 1×10 -4 to 1.

Claim 13

A phosphor according to claim 1 or 2 in which w is in the range of from 2×10 -6 to 1×10 -4 .

Claim 14

A phosphor according to claim 2 in which v is in the range of from 1×10 -6 to 5×10 -4 .

Claim 15

A phosphor according to claim 12 in which v is in the range of from 1×10 -6 to 3×10 -4 .