Cathodoluminescent characteristics of green-emitting ZnAl2O4:Mn thin-film phosphors

Thin films of ZnAl2O4:Mn were grown on aluminosilicate ceramic plates using spray pyrolysis of aqueous solutions. The cathodoluminescence (CL) properties of the films under low to medium excitation voltage (<5 kV) were investigated. The films exhibited green CL after being annealed at temperatures above 550 °C, which corresponds to the transition between 4T1 and 6A1 of Mn2+ ions located in the tetra coordination of the Zn2+ site in the spinel structure. The chromaticity coordinates were x=0.150 and y=0.734 with a dominant wavelength of 525 nm and an 82% color purity. The CL luminance and efficiency depended on the excitation voltage and current density. Saturation effects were observed as the current density increased. A luminance of 540 cd/m2 and an efficiency of 4.5 lm/W were obtained at an excitation voltage of 4 kV with a current density of 38 μ A/cm2.