Optical and luminescence spectroscopy of zinc gallate phosphors codoped with manganese and europium ions

Zinc gallate compounds codoped with manganese and europium ions were synthesized using the high-temperature solid-state reaction method. All samples were “characterized” by X-ray diffraction measurements, ultraviolet reflection spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Structural investigations confirmed that incorporation of europium ions in zinc gallate host leads to distortion of the spinel unit cell and increase in lattice parameter. Manganese ions show the intense excitation in the region of band-to-band transitions. Zinc gallate spinel compounds codoped with manganese and europium ions exhibit emission in the whole spectral region. Among the manganese and europium activator emissions in the “green” and “red” spectral regions, the “blue” emission of spinel matrix was observed. Photoluminescence excitation spectra of europium ions and reflection spectra show similar results in the near-ultraviolet region of the spectra. The optimal concentration of europium activator was determined. Europium doping level leads to redistribution of excitation and emission intensities of zinc gallate codoped samples. The possible energy transfer mechanisms between matrix, manganese, and europium ions are discussed. Overlapping of excitation bands of all types of luminescence gives a possibility to obtain emission in the whole visible spectral range. The Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage chromaticity diagrams confirmed a possible application of the studied zinc gallate spinel compounds codoped with manganese and europium ions for the development of ultraviolet and near-ultraviolet phosphors with flexible emission color in the visible spectral range.