Luminescence properties of the new complex La,BiVO4:Mo,Eu compounds as materials for down-shifting of VUV–UV radiation

• La,BiVO4:Mo,Eu reveals intensive Eu3+ emission under VUV and UV excitation.
• Bi and Mo dopants lead to redshift of Eu3+ excitation spectra in LaVO4 matrix.
• La,BiVO4:Mo,Eu is perspective luminescent down-shifting material.

The LaVO4, La,BiVO4 and Bi1-x/3V1-xMoxO4 (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.20) both undoped and Eu3+-doped powders were synthesized using solid state and co-precipitation methods. Emission and excitation spectra measured within 8–300 K temperature range are discussed. The luminescence spectra reveal wide bands of the host emission and narrow spectral lines caused by inner f–f electron transitions in the Eu3+ ions. Spectral positions of the excitation bands depend on samples' compositions. Experimental results show a possibility for elaboration of luminescent down-shifting materials for enhancement of the silicon solar cells effectiveness.