Effect of Mn2+ ions on the photoluminescence characteristics of Eu3+-doped Zn3(BO3)2 nanoparticles

Eu-doped, Mn-doped and Eu, Mn co-doped Zn3(BO3)2 nanoparticles have been prepared by a co-precipitation method. The XRD pattern shows that the Eu, Mn co-doped sample exhibits Zn3(BO3)2 crystalline phase. The emission and excitation spectra of the doped samples have been investigated. The PL spectrum of Eu3+-doped Zn3(BO3)2 sample consists of four main peaks at 595, 615, 660 and 705 nm, which are assigned to D05→Fj7 (j=1,2,3,4) of Eu3+. The emission and excitation spectra of Zn3(BO3)2: Eu, Mn sample are almost the same as those of the Zn3(BO3)2: Eu sample. However, the photoluminescence intensity of the co-doped sample is dramatically increased compared with the Eu-doped sample because of the energy transfer from Mn2+ to Eu3+ in Zn3(BO3)2.