Structural and Optical Properties of White Light Emitting ZnS:Mn2+ Nanoparticles at Different Synthesis Temperatures

We report of the synthesis and characterisation of white emitting ZnS:Mn2+ nanoparticles. The spectroscopic properties and the crystal structure of Mn doped ZnS nanoparticles are studied here to provide a better understanding on how the luminescence emission and the crystalline composition are influenced by the synthesis temperature. The synthesis of the samples were carried out by the simple wet chemical precipitation method. The influence of synthesis temperature on structure and optical properties were studied at constant Mn concentration. The nanoparticles were structurally characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The XRD studies show the phase singularity of Mn doped ZnS particles having zinc-blende (cubic) structure at all temperatures. The band gap of the doped samples are red shifted with temperature. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectra exhibited resonance signals, characteristic of Mn2+. Incorporation of Mn in the ZnS nanoparticles was confirmed by Inductively Coupled Plasma- Atomic Emission Spectroscopic studies (ICP-AES). The samples show an efficient emission of yellow-orange light centred at 590 nm which is characteristic of Mn2+ along with a blue emission at 435 nm due to sulfur vacancy. The overall emission is white at all temperatures with CIE co-ordinates in close agreement with achromatic white.