Synthesis and luminescence properties of ZnS: Ce3+, Li+, Mn2+ nanophosphors

• The ZnS: Ce, Li, Mn nanophosphors were synthesized by simple chemical method at room temperature.
• The synthesized nanophosphors crystallized in zinc-blende crystal structure.
• It shows the defect emission in the blue region and Mn2+ emission in the orange region.
• The orange emission was due to the [4T1(4G)−6A1(6S)]3d5 transition of Mn2+ ion.
• The ZnS: Ce3+, Li+, Mn2+ nanophosphors show white light, as confirmed by the CIE value (0.374, 0.332).

The Zn(1−(2x+y))S: Cex=0.0013+Lix=0.001+Mn(0.001≤y≤0.03)2+ nanophosphors were prepared using simple chemical ionic mixing method at room temperature. The X-ray diffraction studies on the undoped and doped samples confirmed the formation of zinc-blende structure. As the codopant concentration was increased the band gap energy gradually decreased from 3.92 eV to 3.86 eV. The Zn0.999S:Ce0.0013+ nanophosphor showed the defect emission in the blue and green region with the peak positions at 429 nm, and 539 nm and 564 nm respectively. The Zn(1−(2x+y))S: Cex=0.0013+Lix=0.001+Mn(0.001≤y≤0.03)2+ samples showed a defect emission at 400 nm along with the Mn2+ emission at 590 nm. The orange emission was due to de-excitation of electrons from [4T1(4G)−6A1(6S)]3d5 unfilled shell of Mn2+ ions in ZnS host lattice. The ZnS: Ce3+, Li+, Mn2+ nanophosphors show white light, as confirmed by the CIE chromaticity coordinates (0.374, 0.332).

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide