Sol-gel synthesis and luminescent properties of SiO2/Zn2SiO4 and SiO2/Zn2SiO4:V composite materials

► Elaboration of vanadium doped Zn2SiO4 nanoparticles. ► Structural and optical characterizations of Zn2SiO4:V nanoparticles. ► The powder shows an average particle size of 25 nm. ► A strong luminescence band appears in the visible and infrared range.