The solid solution Ca9Zn1-xMnxNa(PO4)7 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) was obtained by solid-phase reactions under the control of a reducing atmosphere. It was demonstrated that Mn2+-doped phosphors can be obtained using activated carbon in a closed chamber, which is a simple and robust method. The crystal structure of Ca9Zn1-xMnxNa(PO4)7 corresponds to the non-centrosymmetric β-Ca3(PO4)2 type (space group R3c), as confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and optical second-harmonic generation methods. The luminescence spectra in visible area consist of a broad red emission peak centered at 650 nm under 406 nm of excitation. This band is attributed to the 4T1 → 6A1 electron transition of Mn2+ ions in the β-Ca3(PO4)2-type host. The absence of transitions corresponding to Mn4+ ions confirms the success of the reduction synthesis. The intensity of the Mn2+ emission band in Ca9Zn1-xMnxNa(PO4)7 rising linearly with increasing of x at 0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.5. However, a negative deviation of the luminescence intensity was observed at x = 0.7. This trend is associated with the beginning of a concentration quenching. At higher x values, the intensity of luminescence continues to increase but at a slower rate. PXRD analysis of the samples with x = 0.2 and x = 0.5 showed that Mn2+ and Zn2+ ions replace calcium in the M5 (octahedral) sites in the β-Ca3(PO4)2 crystal structure. According to Rietveld refinement, Mn2+ and Zn2+ ions jointly occupy the M5 site, which remains the only one for all manganese atoms within the range of 0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.5. The deviation of the mean interatomic distance (∆l) was calculated and the strongest bond length asymmetry, ∆l = 0.393 Å, corresponds to x = 1.0. The large average interatomic distances between Mn2+ ions in the neighboring M5 sites are responsible for the lack of concentration quenching of luminescence below x = 0.5.
Keywords: TCP; crystal structure; manganese; phosphate; red luminescence; β-Ca3(PO4)2.