Effect of Mn2+ ions on the photoluminescence characteristics of Eu3+-doped Zn3(BO3)2 nanoparticles

Abstract Eu-doped, Mn-doped and Eu, Mn co-doped Zn 3 (BO 3 ) 2 nanoparticles have been prepared by a co-precipitation method. The XRD pattern shows that the Eu, Mn co-doped sample exhibits Zn 3 (BO 3 ) 2 crystalline phase. The emission and excitation spectra of the doped samples have been investigated. The PL spectrum of Eu 3+ -doped Zn 3 (BO 3 ) 2 sample consists of four main peaks at 595, 615, 660 and 705 nm, which are assigned to D 0 5 → F j 7 ( j =1,2,3,4) of Eu 3+ . The emission and excitation spectra of Zn 3 (BO 3 ) 2 : Eu, Mn sample are almost the same as those of the Zn 3 (BO 3 ) 2 : Eu sample. However, the photoluminescence intensity of the co-doped sample is dramatically increased compared with the Eu-doped sample because of the energy transfer from Mn 2+ to Eu 3+ in Zn 3 (BO 3 ) 2 .