Time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy of a YVO4:Eu3+ thin film

Eu3+-doped YVO4 thin film was grown by the pulsed laser deposition technique. Luminescence and excited state dynamics of YVO4:Eu3+ are investigated by time-resolved laser-excitation spectroscopy. Time-integrated emission spectrum exhibits strong emission lines due to the 5D0→7FJ (J=1, 2, 3 and 4) transitions together with weaker emission lines due to the transitions from the 5D3, 5D2 and 5D1 levels to the 7FJ (J=0, 1 and 2) levels. The broad vanadate emission is observed in the spectrum recorded at the time of 40 ns after laser pulse. The temporal behavior of the vanadate and Eu3+ emissions supports fast energy transfer from the vanadate group to Eu3+ ions in YVO4:Eu3+ thin film. The feeding of 5DJ (J=0, 1 and 2) populations occurs by the direct energy transfer from vanadate group and multiphonon relaxation through the higher energy levels of Eu3+.