Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis and multicolor tuning luminescence of YPxV1−xO4:Ln3+ (Ln = Eu, Dy, Sm) nanoparticles

Eu3+, Dy3+ and Sm3+ doped nano-sized YP0.8V0.2O4 phosphors were synthesized by a simple and facile microwave assisted hydrothermal process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well as kinetic decay were used to characterize the samples. Under ultraviolet excitation, the YP0.8V0.2O4:Ln3+ showed the VO43− self-emission band at approximately 452 nm and the characteristic emission of doped lanthanide ions (Ln3+). The VO43− self-emission band decreases when the concentration of lanthanide ion increases, because lanthanide ions acts as activator and receives an efficient energy transfer from VO43−. Through changing the kinds and concentrations of doped Ln3+, the emission colors of the nanophosphor can be tuned in a wide region on CIE color coordinates, making the material have potential application in biolabels.