Luminescent properties of Zn2SiO4:Mn2+ phosphor under UV, VUV and CR excitation

Zn2−xSiO4:xMn2+ (image) green phosphors were synthesized by traditional solid-state reaction. Their photoluminescence under ultraviolet (UV), vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and cathodoluminescence were evaluated. The strongest emission band was observed at about 525 nm (Mn2+ (4T1→6A1)) upon 254 nm, 147 nm and CR excitation, and the maximum emission intensity of Zn2−xSiO4:xMn2+ (image) was obtained at the Mn2+ concentration of image, 0.04, 0.02, respectively. The relaxation of excitation energy under the three excitation energies was investigated; the result shows that Mn2+ was excited directly under UV excitation; upon CR excitation, the electron beam mainly excited the host lattice; for VUV excitation, Mnʹs direct excitation and excitation on the host both existed, and an effective energy transfer process could occur from host to Mn2+ via exchanging interaction in Zn2SiO4:Mn2+.