Strongly enhanced photoluminescence and X-ray excited optical luminescence of the hydrothermally crystallized (Sr,Mn)5(PO4)3(F,Cl) nanorods by composition modulating

The development of emitting materials that present both photoluminescence (PL) and X-ray excited optical luminescence has recently been attracting rising research interest for visualization applications. We introduced in this study the hydrothermally crystallized (Sr 1- x Mn x ) 5 (PO 4 ) 3 F 1- y Cl y ( x  = 0–0.05, y  = 0–0.40) nanorods with favorable PL and X-ray excited optical luminescence properties after composition modulating. The effects of solution pH and Cl − incorporation on structure and morphology of the products were firstly unveiled. (Sr 1- x Mn x ) 5 (PO 4 ) 3 F gives green emission at ∼548 nm ( 4 T 1 ( 4 G) → 6 A 1 ( 6 S)) under either 402 nm excitation or X-ray irradiation, and the optimal PL and X-ray excited optical luminescence were observed at x  = 0.03. The replacement of F − by larger Cl − led to the generation of an amount of Frenkel defects (the dislocated F − and anion vacancies V F . ) along the c -axis, benefit from which the (Sr 0.97 Mn 0.03 ) 5 (PO 4 ) 3 F 1- y Cl y samples present enhanced PL and X-ray excited optical luminescence intensities by factors of 1.6 and 7.4, respectively, and the corresponding optimal y values are determined to be 0.20 and 0.30. Fluorescence decay analysis found steadily shortened fluorescent lifetime for Mn 2+ at higher Mn 2+ and Cl − concentrations, and the underlying mechanism was discussed. The (Sr,Mn) 5 (PO 4 ) 3 (F,Cl) apatite material, with enhanced PL and X-ray excited optical luminescence, may find novel applications for both lighting and scintillating.