Synthesis and characterization of ZnS:Mn2+ nano-particles for white-light emitting

The sol-gel method was used to obtain a kind of white-light emitting ZnS:Mn2+ nanoparticles capped by methacrylic acid with an average particle size of approximately 7 nm. The photoluminescence spectra, X-ray diffraction spectra, Fourier transform infrared reflection spectra and ultraviolet absorption spectra were used to measure their optical properties and crystal structures. The ZnS:Mn2+ nanoparticles with 0.58 wt% Mn2+ concentration emitted white light when excited by 380 nm. The PL spectrum exhibits two emission peaks under irradiation: one at 480 nm generated from the ZnS matrix, and one at 590 nm emitted by the doped Mn2+ ions. The nanoparticles will only emit white light with the optimum Mn2+ concentration (0.58 wt%). X-ray diffraction demonstrates the synthesized ZnS:Mn2+ nanoparticles have zinc blend crystal structure, and the infrared patterns of the capped ZnS:Mn2+ nanoparticles and methacrylic acid are comparable, indicating that the methacrylic polymer has capped or modified ZnS:Mn2+ nanoparticles.