Transition metal ions/rare earth based ceramic phosphors (visible light emitting powders) are the key materials which are used world wide in various types of fluorescent lamps, TV - picture tubes, Plasma display panel, X-ray imaging plate, thermal calibrator and many other strategic applications. Total consumption of the lamp phosphors alone, all over the world, is around 20,000 tons/annum. Only a few countries like Japan (Nichia Corporation), USA (GE, Sylvania), Germany (Osram) and Netherlands (Philips) UK (Phosphor Corporation) are the major producer of these materials. Realizing the importance these materials China and South Korea have recently, started commercial production of different phosphors. In India, no entrepreneur has yet ventured in this area, possibly because of want of suitable indigenous compositions and technologies.

After, years of R&D work, with the financial support from CSIR and DST, Govt. of India, Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kolkata, has successfully developed indigenous technology for bench-scale production of phosphors.

Luminescence efficiency of these phosphors is at part with that of the corresponding imported variety. The processes are now ready for transfer for commercial exploitation.

For further details and modalities of technology of transfer, interested party may contact :-
Dr. R. Debnath, Scientist, Glass Lab.,
Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute,
196, Raja S.C. Mullick Road,
Kolkata 700 032.
Email: siccgcrinc@icenet.net