Structure and luminescence properties of Zn2SiO4:Mn phosphor prepared with MCM-48

Green-emitting Zn2SiO4:Mn (ZSM) phosphors were prepared via a low-temperature hydrothermal route with further calcination. Two types of MCM-48 submitted and not submitted to post-synthesis treatment were used as Si source. The phosphors prepared from post-treated MCM-48 show much higher crystallinity and emission intensity than those from MCM-48 not submitted to post-synthesis treatment. This can be attributed to the larger pore volume and pore size of post-treated MCM-48 which facilitates Mn2+ ions to disperse more homogeneously as well as provides more free space for the growth of α-Zn2SiO4. Increasing the hydrothermal reaction temperature can enhance the emission intensities of particles. The ZSM phosphor showing the highest relative emission intensity was obtained at a hydrothermal temperature of 110 °C and calcining temperature of 1000 °C by using the post-treated MCM-48 as Si source.

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► Zn2SiO4:Mn was prepared by a low-temperature hydrothermal route with further calcining.
► Two types of MCM-48 with different pore sizes were used as Si source.
► Sample using MCM-48 with larger mesopores exhibits much higher emission intensity.
► The emission intensity increases slightly with the hydrothermal temperature.
► Using MCM-48 with larger pores is an effective way of improving emission intensity.