Patent ID: 8497624

Claim:
An Li-containing α-sialon phosphor particle, which is a lithium-containing α-sialon phosphor particle represented by formula (1): Li x Eu y Si 12−(m+n) Al (m+n) O n+δ N 16−n−δ (1) (wherein 0.4≦x≦1.5, 0.001≦y≦0.2, 1.0≦m≦2.8, 0.1≦n+δ≦3.2, and, assuming that average valence of Eu is a, x+ya+δ=m), wherein light absorptivity in a wavelength region near 450 nm is 65% or more and said lithium-containing α-sialon phosphor particle has on a surface thereof a sialon surface layer having an uneven surface microstructure formed by particulate sialon with a dimension of 1 μm or less.