LUMINESCENCE PROPERTIES OF THIN-FILM TA2ZN3O8 AND MN DOPED TA2ZN3O8

Blue luminescence from Ta2Zn3O8 and green luminescence from Mn doped T a2Zn3O8 has been observed under low voltage cathodoluminescent excitat ion. In this article, the luminescence mechanisms of Ta2Zn3O8 and Mn d oped Ta2Zn3O8 are discussed in detail. The results suggest that the in trinsic blue luminescence of Ta2Zn3O8 results from a metal-to-ligand t ransition, whereas the green luminescence of Mn doped Ta2Zn3O8 results from the Mn T-4(1)-(6)A(1) transition. The suppression of the blue in trinsic luminescence in Mn doped Ta2Zn3O8 suggests that efficient ener gy transfer from the host material to the Mn occurs. This energy trans fer phenomenon is also discussed by comparing the photoluminescence ex citation spectra of both thin film materials. Finally, the relative ef ficiency versus voltage and current density is demonstrated and discus sed pertaining to field emission device operation. (C) 1998 American I nstitute of Physics. [S0021-8979(98)01120-7].