Improvement in the cathodoluminescence property of ZnAl2O4:Mn highly-chromatic-pure green phosphor

ZnAl₂O₄:Mn shows green cathodoluminescence (CL) with a peak at 510 nm, which is attributed to the ⁴T₁-⁶A₁ transition within the 3d orbital of a Mn ²⁺ ion. The authors have found that intense CL is observed without a reduction treatment when the ratio of Zn and Al sources is properly selected in the synthesis of ZnAl₂O₄:Mn by a citric gel method . In this study, in order to understand these factors further, the authors have investigated systematically the effects of both the ratio of sources and the reduction condition on the luminescent property of ZnAl₂O₄:Mn for the samples prepared by the solid phase synthesis.