Synthesis, structure and luminescence properties of Y(V,P)O4:Eu3+,Bi3+ phosphors

YVO4:Eu3+-based red-emitting phosphors with the compositions of Y0.95−xVO4:0.05Eu3+,xBi3+ (x=0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07 and 0.09) and Y0.90(V1−zPz)O4:0.05Eu3+,0.05Bi3+ (z=0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 and 1.0) were synthesized by the high temperature solid-state method. The as-prepared phosphors have the similar tetragonal phase structure and their morphologies varied with the relative content ratio of V to P. The photoluminescence spectra for the as-synthesized phosphors show that a dominant red emission line at around 619 nm, which is due to the Eu3+ electric dipole transition of 5D0-7F2, is observed under different excitation wavelengths (254 and 365 nm). Further, the emission intensities of 5D0-7F2 transition upon 365 nm excitation increase sharply owing to the Bi3+ doping. Energy transfer process, luminescent lifetime and quantum efficiency for the selected Y0.90(V1−yPy)O4:0.05Eu3+,xBi3+phosphors were also studied in detail.