Effect of synthesis conditions and surrounding medium on luminescence properties of YVO4:Eu3+ nanopowders

Nanocrystalline yttrium vanadate doped with europium ions powders were synthesized via sol-gel method based on decomposition of metal-polymer complex. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that samples had pure tetragonal phase without any impurities. Scanning electron microscopy and static light scattering technique were used to study morphology and size of prepared nanoparticles. Average diameter of the nanoparticles was about 40 nm. The changes in structural and luminescence properties were observed as a function of the first and second calcination temperature. The optimal conditions for synthesis of nanoparticles were determined as T1=500 °C, t1=1 h; T2=950 °C, t2=1.5 h. The effect of different media surrounding the nanoparticles on their luminescence properties and lifetime was investigated and discussed in terms of effective refractive index. It was found that the observed lifetime of YVO4:Eu3+ 5 at.% nanophosphor was decreased from 0.64 ms in air (nmed=1) to 0.45 ms in chalcogenide glass As39S61 (nmed=2.39).

Graphical AbstractEmission spectra of nanocrystalline YVO4:Eu3+ phosphors with different second calcination temperatures (T1=500 °C/1·h; T2=850–1050 °C/1.5·h) and in various surrounding mediaFigure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide