@article{f6a38e09a3874cc7b95e4dfb368ec3da,
title = "Investigative study of Mn2+ concentration on the structure, morphology and photoluminescence of sol-gel ZnAl2O4/ZnO/ SrAl2O4/Sr3Al2O6 mixed phase nanophosphor",
abstract = "{\textcopyright} 2019 Elsevier B.V. The sol-gel technique was used to synthesize mixed phases of ZnAl2O4/ZnO/SrAl2O4/Sr3Al2O6 (ZZSS) nanophosphors. The study investigated the effect of varying the Mn2+ doping concentration on the structural, morphological and optical properties of the prepared phosphor materials. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed that the structure of the un-doped ZZSS powder was not influenced by varying the Mn2+ concentration. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that the morphological features of the prepared nanophosphors were influenced by the Mn2+ concentration. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed that the prepared materials are on the nanoscale. Ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) diffuse reflection spectroscopy showed that the band gap energy can be tuned in the range 4.78–4.92 eV. The photoluminescence (PL) results showed that the un-doped ZZSS exhibited an emission peak at 580 nm when excited at 374 nm, which is attributed to the defect centres within the ZnAl2O4 and ZnO. The doped samples showed broad emission bands at 600 nm, which were attributed to the 4T1g(G) → 6A1g(S) transitions of Mn2+ ions. The Commission International de I'Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity colour coordinates showed that the emission colour of the prepared phosphors can be tuned from yellow to orange by varying the Mn2+ concentration.",
keywords = "CIE, Luminescence, Mixed phases, Mn, Nanophosphor, Sol-gel",
author = "Mhlongo, {Motlalepula Rebecca} and Koao, {L. F.} and Kroon, {R. E.} and Motloung, {Setumo Victor}",
note = "Funding Information: This work is supported by the South African National Research Foundation ( NRF ) Thuthuka programme (fund numbers: UID 99266 and 113947 ) and Sefako Makgatho Health Science University ( SMU ) Research Development Grant (RDG). This work is based on the research supported in part by the National Research Foundation of South Africa (R.E. Kroon, Grant Number 93214 ). The authors would like to acknowledge Dr James Wesley- Smith and the team from the Electron Microscope Unit at Sefako Makgatho Health Science University for the SEM and TEM images. Funding Information: This work is supported by the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) Thuthuka programme (fund numbers: UID 99266 and 113947) and Sefako Makgatho Health Science University (SMU) Research Development Grant (RDG). This work is based on the research supported in part by the National Research Foundation of South Africa (R.E. Kroon, Grant Number 93214). The authors would like to acknowledge Dr James Wesley- Smith and the team from the Electron Microscope Unit at Sefako Makgatho Health Science University for the SEM and TEM images. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 Elsevier B.V. Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",
year = "2020",
month = feb,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1016/j.physb.2019.411746",
language = "English",
volume = "578",
journal = "Physica B: Condensed Matter",
issn = "0921-4526",
publisher = "Elsevier",
}