Hydrothermal synthesis and luminescence properties of GdVO4:Ln3+ (Ln = Eu, Sm, Dy) phosphors

GdVO4:Eu3+ microcrystals and nanocrystals with different morphologies were successfully synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method in a wide range of pH value, and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray energy dispersion spectrum (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photoluminescence (PL) spectrometer. The experimental results indicate that the morphologies and photoluminescence properties of GdVO4:Eu3+ crystals have a strong dependence on the pH values of the solution. Additionally, Dy3+/Sm3+ doped GdVO4 were synthesized by hydrothermal method, their luminescent properties were performed. The effects of annealing temperature, rare ions (Eu3+, Sm3+ and Dy3+) doping concentration on the photoluminescence emission intensity were also investigated. The GdVO4:Ln3+ (Ln = Eu, Sm, Dy) phosphors show their characteristic emission under ultraviolet excitation due to the efficient energy transfer from VO43− group to rare earth ions.

► GdVO4:Ln3+ (Ln = Eu, Sm, Dy) phosphors were successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method.
► The luminescent properties of GdVO4:Ln3+ (Ln = Eu, Sm, Dy) phosphors were investigated.
► The optimum doping concentrations for Eu3+, Sm3+ and Dy3+ are about 7 mol%, 1.5 mol% and 1 mol%, respectively in the GdVO4 host.
► The controllable synthesis of the morphology of GdVO4:Eu3+ can be realized by adjusting the pH value of the hydrothermal solution and the photoluminescence properties of the prepared products were related to their morphologies.