Photoluminescent and storage properties of photostimulable core/shell type silicate nanoparticles

We have prepared hybrid luminescent nanoparticles with amorphous SiO2 cores and crystalline Zn2SiO4:Mn2+shells by sol-gel technology. Under UV excitation the shells of the particles emit green Mn2+-related luminescence at 525 nm. In addition, under the UV excitation at least two kinds of traps are filled with electrons, contributing to a long afterglow and photostimulated luminescence. The paper presents the details of the charging and stimulation characteristics of the photostimulated luminescence.