Luminescence properties of nano-crystalline Ba3MgSi2O8:Eu2+, Mn2+ phosphors

Ba3MgSi2O8:Eu2+, Mn2+ phosphors were synthesized by the sol-gel method and high temperature solid-state reaction method, respectively. XRD (X-ray diffraction), FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), PL (photoluminescence spectra), and PLE (photoluminescence excitation spectra) were measured to characterize the samples. Emission and excitation spectra of our Ba3MgSi2O8:Eu2+, Mn2+ phosphors monitored at 441, 515, and 614 nm are depicted in the paper. The emission intensities of 441 and 515 nm emission bands increase with increasing Eu2+ concentration, while the peak intensity of the 614 nm band increases with increasing Mn2+ concentration. We conclude that the 515 nm emission band is attributed to the 4f(6)5d transition of Eu2+ ions substituted by Ba2+ sites in Ba2SiO4. The 441 nm emission band originates from Eu2+ ions, while the 614 nm emission band originates from Mn2+ ions of Ba3MgSi2O8:Eu2+, Mn2+. Nano-crystalline Ba3MgSi2O8:Eu2+, Mn2+ phosphors prepared by the sol-gel method show higher color rendering and better color temperature in comparison with the samples prepared by high temperature solid-state reaction method.