Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
ZnS:Mn2+ nanoparticles were synthesized via a wet chemical method with L-cysteine as the stabilizing agent. The obtained aqueous dispersions show an orange luminescence, which is typical for the 4T1 → 6A1 transition within the Mn2+ d-orbitals. The fluorescence quantum yield has been determined with quinine sulphate as a dye reference. It can be increased after formation of a SiO2 shell around the particles by a factor of three. The particle size was determined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction and PCS measurements.