Influence of the variation Yb3+ concentration and sintering temperature in GdVO4: Tm3+/Yb3+ blue emission phosphors

Gd0.99-xVO4:Tm3+0.01/Yb3+x phosphors with different Yb3+ concentration (0.01-0.07 mol) and sintering temperatures (450-600 °C) were synthesized by the planetary ball milling method. The structural properties were analyzed using the X-ray diffraction patterns, which conform the poly phase with Na3Gd(VO4)2 and GdVO4. Upconversion luminescence was investigated under the 975 nm laser diode. The upconversion spectra of Gd0.99-xVO4:Tm3+0.01/Yb3+x show two emission peak in 1G4 → 3H6 (477 nm, blue) and 3H4 → 3H6 (802 nm, NIR) of the Tm3+ transitions, together with the 2F5/2 → 2F7/2 transition of Yb3+. Gd0.92VO4:Tm3+0.01/Yb3+0.07 phosphor sintered at 600 °C is expected to find potential applications such as blue LED by the near infra-red (NIR) excitation.