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.