Abstract
Manganese-doped Zn
2SiO
4 particles imbedded in silica host matrix were successfully prepared by a simple solid-phase reaction under natural atmosphere at 1200
°C for 2
h after the incorporation of ZnO:Mn nanoparticles in silica aerogel monolith using sol–gel method with supercritical drying of ethyl alcohol in two steps. The obtained sample, exhibits a strong photoluminescence (PL) bands in the visible range at 525 and 610
nm. Photoluminescence excitation (PLE) measurements show different origins of the emission. It was suggested that electronic transition associated with Mn
2+ ions in willemite and the presence of Mn
2+ in intensive crystal field were responsible for theses luminescence bands. In the other hand, this emission of the final composite is time stable: no change in the spectra was observed even after being aged for over 1 year.