Pressure dependence of Mn²⁺ fluorescence in ZnS:Mn²⁺ nanoparticles

The photoluminescence (PL) of the Mn-doped ZnS nanoparticles under hydrostatic pressure at room temperature was measured. The emission position shifts to the low energy at a rate of dE/dP = -33.3±0.6 meV/GPa, which is in good agreement with the calculated results of -30.4 meV/GPa using crystal field theory. The pressure coefficient of the Mn²⁺ related fluorescence in ZnS nanoparticles is just a little higher in value than in the bulk material. This is attributed to the enhancement in the electron-phonon interaction in the nanoparticles. No evidence is found in the pressure-luminescence measurement for the enhancement in the interaction between the sp electron of the host and the d electrons of Mn²⁺ in the nanoparticles.