Optical and surface analysis of lithium incorporated GdVO4:Eu3+ phosphor powders

GdVO4:Eu3+ and Li-doped GdVO4:Eu3+ phosphor powders have been studied as potential red phosphors for application to flat panel display application. GdVO4:Eu3+ (the molar ratio of Eu3+ = 0.03) and corresponding Li-doped (nominal molar ratio of Li+ = 0.03) phosphors were synthesized by solid state reaction method. The influence of Li-doping on the crystallization, the surface morphology, chemical states, ion distribution and photoluminescent properties of GdVO4:Eu3+ phosphor powders were investigated. This phosphor showed photoluminescent brightness and crystallization increased when Li ions were doped. The relationship between crystalline and photoluminescent properties were also studied, i.e., Li+-doping effectively enhanced not only the crystallization but also the photoluminescent brightness of GdVO4:Eu3+ powders. Comparing to GdVO4:Eu3+, the photoluminescent brightness of Li-doped GdVO4:Eu3+ powder was increased by a factor of 2.3 times.