VUV photoluminescence of (Y0.5Gd0.5)0.94VO4:Eu3+ red-emitting phosphors prepared by the solution combustion method

Spherical and nano-sized high-quality (Y0.5Gd0.5)0.94Eu0.06VO4 phosphor powders (27 nm in size) were synthesized by the solution combustion method. The microstructure and VUV photoluminescence properties of the (Y0.5Gd0.5)0.94Eu0.06VO4 were studied, depending on the annealing temperature. The mean sizes of the (Y0.5Gd0.5)0.94Eu0.06VO4 powders increased with an increase in the annealing temperature, i.e., 0.09, 0.95, 2.15, 3.6, and 4.4 μm for 600, 800, 1000, 1100, and 1200 °C, respectively. The (Y0.5Gd0.5)0.94Eu0.06VO4 phosphors annealed at 1000 °C showed both the highest emission intensity and the highest ratio of the 5D0 → 7F2 to the 5D0 → 7F1 transition, indicating both the strongest and the purest red light emission.