Synthesis and luminescence of SiO2/Zn2SiO4 and SiO2/Zn2SiO4:Mn composite with sol-gel methods

► Elaboration of un-doped and manganese doped Zn2SiO4 nanoparticles. ► Structural and optical characterizations of Zn2SiO4:Mn nanoparticles. ► The powder shows an average particle size of 25 nm. ► A strong luminescence band in the visible and infrared range is appeared.