  A comprehensive photoluminescence and mechanoluminescence analysis of
ZnS:Mn2+ nano-phosphor with zinc blende structure is presented. The sample
containing quantum dot-sized nanocrystallites were synthesized by the chemical
precipitation method and shows excellent orange luminescence at ambient
conditions related to the 4T1->6A1 transition. The sample shows stable and
identical luminescence behavior under both UV and X-ray excitation at ambient
conditions and also shows excellent self-powered mechanoluminescence
properties. The pressure and temperature-induced luminescence mechanism of the
phosphor is also established. The shift of the 4T1->6A1 luminescence band of
Mn2+ with both pressure and temperature and the luminescence mechanism is
explained via the d5 Tanabe Sugano diagram. The broad luminescence band of
4T1->6A1 transition shifts from visible to near-infrared range at a rate of
-35.8 meV/GPa with the increase of pressure and it is subsequently quenched
completely at a pressure of 16.41 GPa due to a reversible phase transition from
zinc blende to rocksalt phase. The high-pressure and temperature-dependent
decay kinetics measurements of the sample luminescence are also reported.
