Preparation and characterizations of Zn2SiO4:Mn green phosphors

Zn2−xMnxSiO4 green phosphors were prepared with a new solution reaction method and compared with the ones prepared with the conventional solid-state reaction method. Photoluminescent and crystalline properties were examined as functions of the firing temperatures and the manganese (Mn) concentrations. The zinc silicate Zn2−xMnxSiO4 crystalline structures were obtained at 1400 °C and at 1100 °C for the samples prepared with the solid-state reaction and the solution reaction method, respectively. The maximum emission intensity of Zn2−xMnxSiO4 phosphors under vacuum ultra violet (VUV) excitation occurred at the Mn concentration of x=0.02. The solution-reacted phosphors were composed of small round-shaped grains which were about 0.5–1.0 μm in size, whereas, the solid-state reacted phosphors were composed of rectangular-shaped grains which were relatively large, 1–2 μm. The decay time was about 6–9 ms for both Zn2−xMnxSiO4 phosphor samples at x=0.12.