The Mn4+-activated Li2ZnSn2O6 (LZSO:Mn4+) red phosphors were synthesized by the solid-state reaction at temperatures of 1100-1400 oC in air. The synthesized LZSO:Mn4+ phosphors were confirmed to have a single hexagonal LZSO phase without the presence of any secondary phase formed by the Mn4+ addition. With near UV and blue excitation, the LZSO:Mn4+ phosphors exhibited a double band deep-red emission peaked at ~658 nm and ~673 nm due to the 2E→4A2 transition of Mn4+ ion. PL emission intensity showed a strong dependence on the Mn4+ doping concentration and the 0.3 mol% Mn4+-doped LZSO phosphor produced the strongest PL emission intensity. Photoluminescence emission intensity was also found to be dependent on the calcination temperature and the optimal calcination temperature for the LZSO:Mn4+ phosphors was determined to be 1200 oC. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and field-effect scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) analysis revealed that the 0.3 mol% Mn4+-doped LZSO phosphor particles have an irregularly round shape and an average particle size of ~1.46 μm.
Keywords: Li2ZnSn2O6:xMn4+ phosphors, Solid-state reaction, Deep red emission, Photoluminescence properties