The invention refers to an alkaline earth silicon nitride phosphor of the MSiN2 type that is activated by Ce3+ and/or Eu2+ and/or Mn2+ ions. A preferred embodiment of the phosphor is defined by the general formula MSiN2:A, wherein M is a divalent metal ion, especially Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Be and/or Zn, and A is an activator chosen from the group Ce3+, Eu2+ and/or Mn2+. A preferred application for this phosphors is a white-light emitting LED using the phosphor for conversion of radiation
