Luminescent characteristics and energy transfer of a red-emitting YVO4:Sm3+, Eu3+ phosphor

Eu3+ and Sm3+ single-doped and co-doped YVO4 phosphors have been synthesized and their photoluminescence properties in the VUV-VIS region were investigated. Under the excitation of 405 nm, the emission intensity of the optimal phosphor YVO4:Sm3+0.05,Eu3+0.05 at 619 nm was largely enhanced compared to that of the sample without Sm3+, owing to the energy transfer from Sm3+ to Eu3+. The mechanism involved in this process has been explained and elucidated by an energy level diagram. While under the excitation of 147 nm, the emission intensity of YVO4:Sm3+0.05,Eu3+0.05 at 619 nm encounters a decreasing after the introducing of Sm3+ which is probably due to the competing of absorption energy of host between Sm3+ and Eu3+.