BOROPHOSPHATE PHOSPHOR AND LIGHT SOURCE

This invention is related to efficient inorganic borophosphate phosphors which can applied in various technical applications such as fluorescent lamps, colored light or white light emitting diodes, and other devices where phosphors are used to convert especially near UV radiation into the visible light. Further, this invention is related to light sources comprising the efficient borophosphate phosphor. The inventive phosphor absorbs radiation in a first wavelength range of the electromagnetic spectrum and emits radiation in a second wavelength range of the electromagnetic spectrum. This phosphor is a borophosphate activated with divalent rare earth metal ions and is represented by the general formula: AM 1-x RE x BP 2 O 8 . Symbol A stand for at least one univalent alkaline metal ion. Symbol M represents at least one divalent metal ion. Symbol RE stands for at least one divalent ion selected from the group comprising rare earth metals as well as Pb, Sn, Cu, and Mn, wherein RE contains at least one divalent rare earth metal ion that is acting as an activator, preferably Eu. Variable x is limited by 0 < x < 1.