Thermally stable Mn²⁺‐activated zinc silicate nanophosphor for speedy recognition of high‐contrast latent fingermarks

Abstract

Crystalline divalent manganese-activated zinc orthosilicate (Zn 2 SiO 4 :Mn 2+ ) nanophosphor has been synthesized via the solution-based sol-gel process. Structural, morphological, and photoluminescence (PL) properties were explored. X-ray diffraction pattern confirms the crystalline hexagonal structure of the single-phase Zn 2 SiO 4 powder. The size and shape of Zn 2 SiO 4 powder were analyzed using micrographs, which implies that the prepared phosphor particles are in the nano range. PL spectra have been recorded as a function of Mn 2+ dopant concentration. A dominant green (∼526 nm) emission broad peak was observed owing to the characteristic ( 4 T 1 → 6 A 1 ) transition of Mn 2+ ion under UV/blue excitation. The green emission (∼526 nm) intensity depends upon the doping concentration of Mn 2+ ion, and it is found to be optimum for 2.0 mol%, after that quenching phenomenon was registered. The CIE color coordinate of Zn 2 SiO 4 :Mn 2+ lies in the bright green region under UV excitation with 94.3% color purity. Real-time experiments have been carried out for speedy development of high-contrast fingermarks using Zn 2 SiO 4 nanophosphor on various porous and nonporous substrates.

Sonochemistry Synthesis of Zinc Silicate Ceramic Nanoparticles and Their Characterization

“…In the enchanting world of luminescence, there exists a captivating behavior that has made it a beloved choice as a luminescent agent in various realms. This magical property opens doors to a myriad of possibilities, offering its luminescent glow as a guiding light in numerous areas such as: Optoelectronics, LED, lighting devices [13,[16][17][18] plasma displays, eld emission displays (FEDs ) [19,20], electronics devices, insulators [21] paints, art, glow-in-the-dark products [22][23][24], invisible security markings [25,26], radiation detection and dosimetry [13,16], scintillation detectors for medical imaging [27,28],biomaterials [29][30][31][32][33][34][35], sensor technology ( temperature, pressure, gas, humidity…) [36,37] Numerous authors have been conducted various approaches for synthesizing Zn 2 SiO 4 , such as the solgel method [38,39], solid-state route [40,41], polymer precursor method [42], spray pyrolysis method [43,44], and hydrothermal method [45,46], solvothermal method [47]. However, these conventional methods often entail high-pressure conditions or heat treatment at temperatures exceeding 180°C for extended periods.…”