Synthesis and photoluminescence of octahedral GdVO4 microcrystals by hydrothermal conversion of Gd2(CO3)3·xH2O nanospheres

Uniform octahedral gadolinium vanadate (GdVO4) microcrystals were successfully prepared by a simple hydrothermal route in two-steps. Firstly, homogenous Gd2(CO3)3·xH2O nanospheres with an average diameter of ∼80 nm were synthesized by using a facile hydrothermal method. Then, uniform octahedral GdVO4 microcrystals were obtained at the expense of the precursor during a hydrothermal conversion process. The results show that the morphology of the as-synthesized GdVO4 crystals could gradually evolve with prolonging the reaction time. Also, it was found that the reaction pH played an important role in the formation of octahedral GdVO4 microcrystals. A possible formation mechanism of octahedral GdVO4 microcrystals was discussed. The as-obtained Eu3+-doped GdVO4 products showed strong characteristic red emission under the ultraviolet excitation, which might find potential applications in the fields of fluorescent lamps, display systems and optoelectronic devices.

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► Octahedral GdVO4 microcrystals were synthesized via a two-step hydrothermal route.
► A dissolution–recrystallization mechanism was proposed.
► GdVO4:Eu3+ octahedral microcrystals show strong photoluminescence.