Hydrothermal synthesis of Y(V, P)O4:Ln3+ (Ln = Eu, Yb, and Er) with shape- and size-controlled morphologies

In this paper, controllable morphologies for Y(V, P)O4 and Y(V, P)O4:Ln3+ (Ln = Eu, Yb, and Er) were obtained via a facile hydrothermal route under different reaction conditions, and their luminescence properties were investigated. The time-dependent experiments reveal that the pH value is the main influential factor in the different morphological formations of Y(V, P)O4, and well-separated nanocrystals and monodisperse microspherical particles can be obtained by employing the Y(OH)CO3:Yb3+, Er3+ colloidal spheres as a sacrificial template in the hydrothermal process under pH values of 7.5 and 10, respectively. For upconversion application, the emission spectrum of Y0.78(V0.5, P0.5)O4:0.2Yb3+, 0.02Er3+ nanocrystals with the average diameter of about 9.2 nm exhibits yellowish green color upon 980 nm excitation, and the upconversion luminescence mechanisms was studied by the pump power dependence of the emission intensities. For application in plasma display panels, the Y0.89(V0.5, P0.5)O4:0.11Eu3+ microspherical particles with the average diameter of about 1.2 μm after heat-treatment exhibits an enhanced red emission with chromaticity coordinates of (0.65, 0.35) upon 147 nm excitation. And its morphological and luminescent characteristics demonstrate the good application prospect in 3D plasma display panels.