Tuning Multimode Luminescence in Lanthanide(III) and Manganese(II) Co-Doped CaZnOS Crystals

Multimode luminescence with tunable optical properties is reported in lanthanide(III) and manganese(II) co-doped CaZnOS crystals. The materials display distinct emissions under excitations of X-ray, ultraviolet, and near-infrared photons as well as mechanical action, respectively. The excitation dependence of emission spectra stems from varying host-to-dopant and dopant-to-dopant energy transfer processes involved in different luminescence modes. By controlling intracrystal energy transfer through control of dopant concentration and combination, the emission spectra are precisely tuned across the visible to near-infrared. These findings highlight a facile approach to constructing multimode luminescent materials with intrinsically encrypted emission characteristics for advanced anticounterfeiting applications.