Luminescence of the self-activated vanadate phosphors Na2LnMg2V3O12 (Ln=Y, Gd)

The self-activated yellow–green emitting garnet vanadate phosphors Na2LnMg2V3O12 (Ln=Y, Gd) were synthesized by a modified sol–gel method. The structure and phase purity of samples were verified through X-ray diffraction (XRD). The photoluminescence excitation (PLE) and emission (PL) spectra, luminescence lifetime, and temperature-dependent photoluminescence were also investigated. Due to its broadband excitation and emission spectra from charge transfer in the VO4 tetrahedron, as well as good thermal stability, Na2LnMg2V3O12 (Ln=Y, Gd) could be a potential yellow-emitting phosphor for the near-UV excited WLEDs or sunlight spectral modification phosphors for solar cells.