Influence of grain size on luminescence properties of micro- and nanopowder Zn2V2O7 vanadate

• Spongiform nanocrystalline α-Zn2V2O7 was synthesized.
• Grain size of α-Zn2V2O7 influence its luminescence properties.
• The lattice parameters of α-Zn2V2O7 depend on the grain size in submicron range.

Micro- and spongiform nanocrystalline Zn2V2O7 compounds were synthesized by hydrothermal and solid-state reaction techniques, and their morphological features were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The grain size ranges of the produced powders were 3–15, 0.5–2 μm, and 50–500 nm. The luminescence spectra of these compounds were measured under pulse cathode beam and photoexcitation (200–400 nm). The luminescence decay properties of Zn2V2O7 were studied.It is found that the intensity, maximum position of luminescence spectra and luminescence decay time of Zn2V2O7 samples depend considerably on the grain size of the synthesized powders. The processes of energy relaxation in Zn2V2O7 and the observed size effect on the luminescence properties are also discussed.