Effect of surface morphology on manganese ion luminescence kinetics in ZnS:Mn2+ films

Abstract

ZnS:Mn2+ films differing in surface morphology have been grown on glass substrates by magnetron sputtering and laser deposition, and the effect of surface roughness on the spectral characteristics and decay time of yellow luminescence in the films has been studied. The results demonstrate that luminescence interference at the upper and lower boundaries of the films influences not only the shape of their emission spectrum but also the manganese ion radiative recombination kinetics. The difference in emission decay time between ZnS:Mn2+ crystals and films can be understood in terms of the local density of photon states.