Photoluminescence properties of Ca9Y(VO4)7 and Ca9Y0.95Ln0.05(VO4)7 (Ln3+ = Eu3+, Sm3+, Pr3+)

The luminescence of Ca9Y(VO4)7 and Ca9Y0.95Ln0.05(VO4)7 (Ln3+ = Eu3+, Sm3+, Pr3+) has been investigated as a potential near UV/blue light-emitting diode phosphor. Ca9Y0.95Eu0.05(VO4)7 and Ca9Y0.95Sm0.05(VO4)7 can be efficiently excited by the near UV light with λex = 396 and 410 nm, respectively, and emit intensely the red light at 616 and 650 nm. Ca9Y0.95Pr0.05(VO4)7 can be excited by the blue light of 457 nm and the most intense emission locates at 616 nm. Our results indicate that Ca9Y(VO4)7 is a potential host material for Eu3+, Sm3+ and Pr3+ and Ca9Y0.95Ln0.05(VO4)7 (Ln3+ = Eu3+, Sm3+, Pr3+) is capable of converting the near UV/blue emission of a light-emitting diode into red light.