Synthesis and phosphorescence properties of Mn, La and Ho in MgAl2Si2O8

Mn⁴⁺, La³⁺ and Ho³⁺ doped MgAl₂Si₂O₈-based phosphors were first synthesized by solid state reaction. They were characterized by thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The phosphors were obtained at about 1300 °C. They showed broad red and fuchsia-pink emission bands in the range of 610-715 nm and had a different maximum intensity when activated by UV illumination. Such a fuchsia-pink emission can be attributed to the intrinsic d-d transitions of Mn⁴⁺.