Achieving Multicolor Anti-Counterfeiting via Simultaneous X-Ray and UV/Blue Excitation in Ca2YMgScSi3O12: Mn2+

Optical materials have attracted much attention in anti-counterfeiting applications due to their visualization and multi-emission modes. However, the unit occupancy predestines the material to only monochromatic emission, inhibiting the application of optical materials in advanced information encryption. Here, a green to yellow to deep-red phosphor is reported in a Mn 2+ -activated garnet compound Ca 2 YMgScSi 3 O 12 : Mn 2+ (CYMSS: Mn 2+ ), originating from the abundant lattice sites occupying within the crystal structure by Mn 2+ ions. Three different photoluminescence (PL) emission bands peaked at 517, 576, and 720 nm from 4 T 1 (G) → 6 A 1 (S) are observed, which are attributed to the substitution of [Sc/MgO 6 ] octahedron and [Ca/YO 8 ] dodecahedron sites by Mn 2+ ions, respectively. Hence, tunable emissions from green to deep-red are realized in single Mn 2+ doping by switching the excitation source of ultraviolet (UV)/blue and X-ray, which can be further regulated by varying the Mn 2+ concentration. Multi-position occupying, color-tunable light-emitting materials offer the possibility of more advanced optical information encryption.