Tb3+ ions in the presence of ZnS:Mn2+ nanocrystals incorporated into silica: Tb3+ and Mn2+ luminescence kinetics

A material consisting of Tb3+ ions and ZnS:Mn2+ nanocrystals was prepared by impregnation of silica gel. Comparison of its luminescence properties suggests energy transfer from excited ZnS nanocrystals to Tb3+ ions. Mn2+ ions as dopants in ZnS are inactive in the energy transfer process, since no further energy transfer to Tb3+ is possible when the ZnS:Mn2+ system relaxes to the Mn2+ excited state.