Synthesis and luminescent properties of nanosized YVO4:Ln (Ln = Sm, Dy)

In this paper nanosized luminescent materials YVO4:Sm and YVO4:Dy were synthesized by complex-based sol–gel method. A certain amount of soluble starch participates in this synthesis as a chelate agent. Homogeneous and fine powders have been successfully prepared because soluble starch consists of long-chain glucose units which cannot only provide chelating units but also hinder the growth of nanoparticles. The experimental results have proved that the host YVO4 can effectively transfer the absorbed energy to the activators Sm3+ and Dy3+. Under the excitation of the host absorption, phosphors can emit yellow light for YVO4:Dy3+ nanoparticles and orange light for YVO4:Sm3+ nanoparticles, respectively.