Mn pinning effect in SrS thin-film electroluminescent phosphors

An Mn pinning effect which limits the grain size in SrS: Mn thin films is r eported. The SrS: Mn films exhibit spectrally identical saturated electrolu minescent (EL) and photoluminescent (PL) green emissions at 5400 Angstrom w ith CIE coordinates of x = 0.33 and y = 0.64. However, although strong PL e mission was obtained, the EL emission was very weak. It is proposed that th e weak EL emission is attributed to the small grain size caused by a Mn pin ning effect. The mechanisms of the grain growth and Mn pinning effect in Sr S are proposed and discussed in this letter. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)02111-7].