Synthesis and Characterization of Highly Crystalline Bi-Functional Mn-Doped Zn₂SiO₄ Nanostructures by Low-Cost...

Herein, we demonstrate a process for the synthesis of a highly crystalline bi-functional manganese (Mn)-doped zinc silicate (Zn₂SiO₄) nanostructures using a low-cost sol-gel route followed by solid state reaction method. Structural and morphological characterizations of Mn-doped Zn₂SiO₄ with variable doping concentration of 0.03, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 wt% were investigated by using X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) techniques. HR-TEM-assisted elemental mapping of the as-grown sample was conducted to confirm the presence of Mn in Zn₂SiO_4. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra indicated that the Mn-doped Zn₂SiO₄ nanostructures exhibited strong green emission at 521 nm under 259 nm excitation wavelengths. It was observed that PL intensity increased with the increase of Mn-doping concentration in Zn₂SiO₄ nanostructures, with no change in emission peak position. Furthermore, magnetism in doped Zn₂SiO₄ nanostructures was probed by static DC magnetization measurement. The observed photoluminescence and magnetic properties in Mn-doped Zn₂SiO₄ nanostructures are discussed in terms of structural defect/lattice strain caused by Mn doping and the Jahn-Teller effect. These bi-functional properties of as-synthesized Zn₂SiO₄ nanostructures provide a new platform for their potential applications towards magneto-optical and spintronic and devices areas.