Photoluminescence and electron paramagnetic resonance studies of Mn2+doped CaAl4O7

Manganese doped polycrystalline CaAl4O7 samples with doping concentrations in 0.1–2.0 mol% range were synthesized using the solid-state synthesis method. Photoluminescence (PL) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy techniques were applied to characterize the local structure and properties of Mn ions in CaAl4O7. With excitation of 406 nm, Mn2+ exhibited a wide emission band centered at 572 nm with luminescence decay time 6.5–8.3 ms. The results of EPR and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses evidenced preferential incorporation of Mn2+ in the seven-fold coordinated site of Ca2+. •Mn2+-doped CaAl4O7 exhibits photoluminescence (PL) centered at 572 nm.•Luminescence decay time of Mn2+ ions was in the 6.5–8.3 ms range.•EPR and XRD analyses suggest that Mn2+ ions are incorporated in the Ca2+ sites.•The colour tuneability of Mn-doped CaAl4O7 PL has been demonstrated.