Preparation of (ZnO)1−x(GaN)x:Mn2+ powder and its photoluminescence properties

(ZnO)1−x(GaN)x:Mn2+ powder was prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction under an NH3 gas flow. The sample preparation conditions including the mixing ratio of the raw materials, the annealing temperature, and the annealing time were varied. The crystallinity and the photoluminescence (PL) intensity of this fluorescent material were improved by increasing the amount of ZnO and by increasing the annealing time, and no changes was observed in the PL wavelength. The crystallinity of the samples was enhanced and the PL intensity increased markedly at annealing temperatures of 700 °C and 800 °C, respectively. Moreover, it was clarified that the sample could be synthesized at annealing temperatures of above about 650 °C.