Na2EDTA-assisted hydrothermal synthesis and luminescent properties of YVO4:Eu3+ with different morphologies in a wide pH range

Nano- and micro-scaled Eu-doped yttrium orthovanadate (YVO4:Eu3+) powders had been fabricated via disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate (Na2EDTA)-assisted morphology controllable hydrothermal method in a wide pH range at 180 °C for 24 h. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The results showed that the pH value of the synthesis solution played a key role in the formation of the final products with different morphologies, including ball-like micro-spheres, micro-spheres composed of submicron cubes and flower-like structures containing nano-plates. The photoluminescence measurement revealed that the luminescent properties of the samples were changed by varying their morphologies. The significant ball-like micro-spheres of YVO4:Eu3+ particles had been synthesized, and the luminescence intensity of them is the strongest one among all products.