Effect of manganese concentration on photoluminescence properties of Zn2SiO4:Mn nanophosphor material

Nanophosphor beta-Zn2SiO4:Mn with bright yellow light emission were synthesized by a sol gel process. These samples were prepared by a simple solid-phase reaction under natural atmosphere at 1500 degrees C after the incorporation of ZnO:Mn nanoparticles, in silica monolith. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the phase purity, particle size and morphology. In addition photoluminescence (PL) was used for optical study. The PL spectrum for the beta-Zn2SiO4:Mn nanophosphors showed a dominant peak at 574 nm, which originated from the T-4(1) -> (6)A(1) transitions of Mn2+ ions. The level of manganese doping did not greatly affect the crystallinity, but did affect the luminescence of nanophosphors. Upon 255 nm excitation, the luminescence decay time of the yellow emission of beta-Zn2SiO4 with a Mn doping concentration of 2 at.% around 574 nm is 13 ms. The characteristics of crystallinity, morphology and luminescence property of the obtained nanophosphors were investigated. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.