Satellite peak generation in the electroluminescence spectrum of ZnS:Sm grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition with Cl codoping

ZnS:Sm, ZnS:Sm,Cl, and ZnS:Cl thin films were grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition using the thd-chelate (thd=2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione) of Sm and hydrogen chloride. The electroluminescence spectrum of the ZnS:Sm,Cl showed three satellite peaks appearing in each of the 7 nm ranges around the three dominant peaks that the ZnS:Sm has originally. The ZnS:Sm,Cl also showed photoluminescence attributed to the self-activated centers, but its intensity was less than 10−2 of that of the ZnS:Cl. The effect of the Cl codoping on Sm3+ luminescent properties is discussed on the basis of the Sm-VZn (zinc vacancy)-Cl complex formation.