https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-06807-x
Regular Article
Enhanced optical properties of Mn-doped ZnWO4/GO nanocomposite powders
1
Faculty of Physics, Semnan University, P.O. Box: 35195-363, Semnan, Iran
2
Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, Semnan University, 35131-19111, Semnan, Iran
a
s.alamdari@semnan.ac.ir
b
mtafreshi@semnan.ac.ir
Received:
14
February
2025
Accepted:
24
August
2025
Published online:
16
September
2025
Luminescent materials are indispensable in radiation detection, displays, and biophotonics because they convert high-energy stimuli into visible photons. Here, manganese-doped zinc tungstate/graphene oxide nanocomposite powders (ZnWO₄/GO:Mn) were synthesized via a facile two-step co-precipitation–calcination route. Comprehensive structural, optical, and scintillation characterizations were performed. X-ray diffraction/Rietveld refinement confirmed the monoclinic wolframite ZnWO₄ phase, while SEM/TEM revealed predominantly spherical-to-polyhedral particles with an average diameter of (330 ± 20) nm anchored on partially reduced GO sheets. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy verified the uniform presence of Zn, W, Mn, C, and O, and FTIR identified characteristic W–O (600–800 cm⁻1), C=O (1730 cm⁻1), and O–H (3400 cm⁻1) vibrations. Photoluminescence under 365-nm excitation showed that Mn2⁺ doping boosts the green emission peak at 545 nm, producing ∼40% higher intensity than undoped ZnWO₄/GO, owing to transitions of Mn2⁺ centers and improved charge separation through the GO network. Ion-beam-induced luminescence and 241Am α-particle tests demonstrated a 40% higher photon yield for ZnWO₄/GO:Mn compared with pristine ZnWO₄, highlighting its scintillation potential. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements gave a Type IV–H3 isotherm, indicating slit-like mesoporosity. The nanocomposite exhibits a BET surface area of 0.371 ± 0.02 m2 g−1, a total pore volume of 0.0185 cm3 g−1, and a BJH pore-size maximum at ∼6.6 nm, arising from interlayer voids between GO sheets and ZnWO₄ grains. These synergistic structural and opto-scintillation enhancements position ZnWO₄/GO:Mn nanoparticles as promising candidates for next-generation optoelectronic applications.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
