Editing Phosphor (section)

===Radioluminescence===
{{main|Radioluminescence}}
Zinc sulfide phosphors are used with [[radioactive]] materials, where the phosphor was excited by the alpha- and beta-decaying isotopes, to create luminescent paint for dials of [[watch]]es and instruments ([[radium dials]]). Between 1913 and 1950 radium-228 and radium-226 were used to activate a phosphor made of [[silver]] [[dopant|doped]] zinc sulfide (ZnS:Ag), which gave a greenish glow. The phosphor is not suitable to be used in layers thicker than 25&nbsp;mg/cm<sup>2</sup>, as the self-absorption of the light then becomes a problem. Furthermore, zinc sulfide undergoes degradation of its crystal lattice structure, leading to gradual loss of brightness significantly faster than the depletion of radium. ZnS:Ag coated [[spinthariscope]] screens were used by [[Ernest Rutherford]] in his experiments discovering [[atomic nucleus]].

[[Copper]] doped zinc sulfide (ZnS:Cu) is the most common phosphor used and yields blue-green light. Copper and [[magnesium]] doped zinc sulfide {{chem2|(ZnS:Cu,Mg)}} yields yellow-orange light.

[[Tritium]] is also used as a source of radiation in various products utilizing [[tritium illumination]].