Synthesis and Characterization of Highly Crystalline Bi-Functional Mn-Doped Zn(2)SiO(4) Nanostructures by Low-Cost Sol–Gel Process

Herein, we demonstrate a process for the synthesis of a highly crystalline bi-functional manganese (Mn)-doped zinc silicate (Zn(2)SiO(4)) nanostructures using a low-cost sol–gel route followed by solid state reaction method. Structural and morphological characterizations of Mn-doped Zn(2)SiO(4) with variable doping concentration of 0.03, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 wt% were investigated by using X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) techniques. HR-TEM-assisted elemental mapping of the as-grown sample was conducted to confirm the presence of Mn in Zn(2)SiO(4.) Photoluminescence (PL) spectra indicated that the Mn-doped Zn(2)SiO(4) nanostructures exhibited strong green emission at 521 nm under 259 nm excitation wavelengths. It was observed that PL intensity increased with the increase of Mn-doping concentration in Zn(2)SiO(4) nanostructures, with no change in emission peak position. Furthermore, magnetism in doped Zn(2)SiO(4) nanostructures was probed by static DC magnetization measurement. The observed photoluminescence and magnetic properties in Mn-doped Zn(2)SiO(4) nanostructures are discussed in terms of structural defect/lattice strain caused by Mn doping and the Jahn–Teller effect. These bi-functional properties of as-synthesized Zn(2)SiO(4) nanostructures provide a new platform for their potential applications towards magneto-optical and spintronic and devices areas.