Sol-gel synthesis and green luminescence of nanocrystalline Zn2SiO4:Mn phosphor

A novel sol-gel process to synthesize nanosize Zn2SiO 4:Mn phosphor and its luminescent properties was reported. Methanol was used as solvent and zinc acetate dihydrate, tetraethoxysilane, and Mn chloride tetrahydrate as starting materials to achieve a low-cost sol-gel route and to use simple and safe chemistry. a stoichiometric amount of Zn(CH 3COO)2.2H2O and tetraethoxysilane was dissolved in ethanol, and then stirred for 30 min at room temperature. It was found that the sol-gel derived offers a novel method to obtain nanosized Zn 2SiO4:Mn green-emitting phosphor with compatible luminescence properties even at low temperatures for much shorter calcination.