Valency and solubility limit of Cu ions in cubic and hexagonal phases of ZnS:Cu:Mn:Dy(Cl) phosphors

Polycrystalline ZnS:Cu:Mn:Dy (Cl) phosphors with varying concentration of Cu and fixed concentrations of Mn and Dy have been prepared, XRD studies showed that the cubic — hexagonal phase transformation in the phosphors is a sensitive function of Cu concentration so that cubic phase dominates at higher Cu concentrations. It has also been found that Cu enters into the cubic ZnS phase as Cu⁺ while in hexagonal ZnS phase as Cu²⁺ and their solubility limits are around 0.1 wt.% and 0.25 wt.% respectively. Attempt has been made to confirm the existence of Cu⁺ in cubic phase and Cu²⁺ in hexagonal phase from EL emission spectra of the phosphors.