Effect of particle size and morphology on the properties of luminescence in ZnWO4

We investigated pulsed photoluminescence and pulsed cathodoluminescence in ZnWO4 crystals and composite materials based on dispersed powders of zinc tungstate in the polymer matrix. It is shown that the size of crystal particles affects the luminescence decay time in excitation by electron and laser radiation. The decay time obtained for the composite material with nanoparticles 25 nm and 100 nm in size is equal to 5 µs and 7 µs, respectively. Relative values of the light yield of composite containing zinc tungstate crystals in the form of rods are found to be larger in comparison with crystallites in the form of grains. The mechanisms of luminescence recombination in laser and electron excitation are discussed.