Synthesis and luminescence properties of YVO4:Eu,Bi phosphor with enhanced photoluminescence by Bi doping

YVO₄:Eu³⁺,Bi³⁺ phosphors have been prepared by the high-temperature solid-state (HT) method and the Pechini-type sol-gel (SG) method. Spherical SiO₂ particles have been further coated with YVO₄:Eu³⁺,Bi³⁺ phosphor layers by the Pechini-type SG process, and it leads to the formation of core-shell structured SiO₂/YVO₄:Eu³⁺,Bi³⁺ phosphors. Therefore, the phase formations, structures, morphologies, and photoluminescence properties of the three types of as-prepared YVO₄:Eu³⁺,Bi³⁺ phosphors were studied in detail. The average diameters for the phosphor particles are 2-4 μm for HT method, 0.1-0.4 μm for SG method, and 0.5 μm for core-shell structured SiO₂/YVO₄:Eu³⁺,Bi³⁺ particles, respectively. Photoluminescence spectra show that effective energy transfer takes place between Bi³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions in each type of as-prepared YVO₄:Eu³⁺,Bi³⁺ phosphors. Introduction of Bi³⁺ into YVO₄:Eu³⁺ leads to the shift of excitation band to the long-wavelength region, thus the emission intensities of ⁵D₀-⁷F₂ electric dipole transition of Eu³⁺ at 615 nm upon 365 nm excitation increases sharply, which makes this phosphor a suitable red-emitting materials that can be pumped with near-UV light emitting diodes (LEDs).     

Enhancement of luminescence properties of Eu:YVO4 in polymeric nanocomposites upon UV excitation

Highly emissive Eu³⁺:YVO₄ nanocrystals were successfully prepared by the hydrothermal method. The average diameter of grains was determined to be 15 nm. Transparent polymer nanocomposites composed of PMMA and well dispersed Eu³⁺:YVO₄ nanocrystals were fabricated by in situ polymerization. The nanocrystalline powders and nanocomposites were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The luminescence properties of the obtained nanocomposites were investigated and compared with the starting powders and Eu³⁺:YVO₄ single crystal. The effect of the polymeric host on the luminescence properties of Eu³⁺:YVO₄ is presented and discussed.     

Photoluminescence of colloidal YVO4:Eu/SiO2 core/shell nanocrystals

YVO₄:Eu, and YVO₄:Eu/SiO₂ nanocrystals (NCs) were prepared by hydrothermal method with citrate as capping ligands. Their morphologies, structures, components, and photoluminescence properties were investigated and presented in this paper. A remarkable fluorescence enhancement up to 2.17 times was observed in colloidal YVO₄:Eu/SiO₂ NCs, compared to that of colloidal YVO₄:Eu NCs. This is mainly attributed to the formation of the outer protecting layers of biocompatible SiO₂ shells; which shield the Eu³⁺ ions effectively from water and thus reduces the deleterious effects of water on the luminescence. Meanwhile, on the basis of laser selective excitation, two kinds of luminescent centers were confirmed in the NCs, namely, inner Eu³⁺ ions and surface Eu³⁺ ions. The surface modifications for YVO₄:Eu NCs effectively reduced the surface defects and accordingly enhanced the luminescence. The core/shell NCs exhibited long fluorescence lifetime and high photostability under ultraviolet radiation.     

Influence of nanoenvironment on luminescence of Euactivated SnO2 nanocrystals

The emission intensity of the peak at 612 nm (⁵D₀→⁷F₂) of the Eu³⁺ ions activated SnO₂ nanocrystals (doped and coated) is found to be sensitive to the nanoenvironment. We have compared the luminescence efficiencies of the nanocrystals of SnO₂ doped by Eu₂O₃ with those of SnO₂ coated by Eu₂O₃ and we found that the intensities are significantly higher in coated nanocrystals. Furthermore, it is clear from luminescence intensity measurements that Eu³⁺ ions occupy low symmetry sites in the Eu₂O₃ coated SnO₂ nanocrystal. The analysis suggests that the radiative relaxation rate is higher in Eu₂O₃ coated SnO₂ nanocrystals than Eu₂O₃ doped SnO₂ nanocrystals due to the asymmetric environment of Eu³⁺ ions in coated samples.     

Synthesis and properties of colloidal ternary ZnGa2O4:Eu nanocrystals

A nonhydrolytic hot solution synthesis technique was used to grow monodisperse ternary oxide nanocrystals of ZnGa₂O₄:Eu³⁺. The shape of ZnGa₂O₄:Eu³⁺ nanocrystals was a function of the type of precursor, and their size was controlled by changing the concentration ratio of Zn precursor to surfactant. The crystal structure of synthesized ZnGa₂O₄ nanocrystals was a cubic spinel with no detectable secondary phases. Photoluminescence of red-emitting ZnGa₂O₄:Eu³⁺ nanocrystals resulted in a high (⁵D₀-⁷F₂)/(⁵D₀-⁷F₁) intensity ratio, suggesting that the Eu³⁺ ions occupy tetrahedral Zn²⁺ sites or distorted octahedral Ga³⁺ sites with no inversion symmetry in ZnGa₂O₄ nanocrystals.     

Synthesis and photoluminescent properties of YVO4:Eu nano-crystal phosphor prepared by Pechini process

A sol-gel technique emphasizing the Pechini process has been employed for the preparation of nano-crystal Eu³⁺-doped YVO₄ phosphor. The precursor powders were heated at 800 °C for 3 h to obtain good crystallinity with better luminescence. XRD results indicate that the second phase is not presented when the Eu³⁺ ion concentration is increased up to 50 mol%. The absorption and photoluminescent (PL) studies indicated that the energy is absorbed first by the host and then transferred to the emitting level of the Eu³⁺ ions. Excitation at 318 nm in terms of Eu³⁺ concentrations in YVO₄ powders shows that the YVO₄ phosphors display bright red luminescence at about 618 nm belonging to the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ electric dipole transition, and a weak band in the orange region of the ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ transition at 594 nm. In addition, the time-resolved ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition presents a single-exponential decay behavior, revealing the decay mechanism of the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition is a single decay component between Eu³⁺ ions only. The saturation of the emission intensity excited by the CTS when the Eu³⁺ concentration is 10 mol%. The concentration quenching is active when the Eu³⁺ concentration is larger than 10 mol%, and the critical distance is about 5.75 Å.     

Optical absorption and photoluminescence studies of Eu-doped phosphate and fluorophosphate glasses

Phosphate (P₂O₅+K₂O+BaO+Al₂O₃+Eu₂O₃) and fluorophosphate (P₂O₅+K₂O+BaO+BaF₂+Al₂O₃+Eu₂O₃) glasses with different Eu³⁺ ion concentrations have been prepared and characterized through optical absorption, photoluminescence and decay times. An intense red luminescence is observed from the ⁵D₀ emitting level of Eu³⁺ ions in these glasses. The relative luminescence intensity ratio of ⁵D₀→⁷F₂→⁵D₀→⁷F₁ transitions has been evaluated to estimate the local site symmetry around the Eu³⁺ ions. The emission spectra of these glasses show a complete removal of degeneracy for the ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ and ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transitions. Second and fourth rank crystal-field (CF) parameters have been calculated together with the CF strength parameter by assuming the C_2v symmetry for the Eu³⁺ ions in both the phosphate and fluorophosphate glasses. Judd-Ofelt parameters have been evaluated from the luminescence intensity ratios of ⁵D₀→⁷F_J (J=2, 4 and 6) to ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ transitions. These parameters have been used to derive radiative properties such as transition probabilities, branching ratios, radiative lifetimes and peak stimulated emission cross-sections for the ⁵D₀→⁷F_J transitions. Decay curves of the ⁵D₀ level of Eu³⁺ ions in these two Eu³⁺:glass systems have been measured by monitoring the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition (611 nm) at room temperature. The experimental lifetime of the ⁵D₀ level in the title glasses is found to be higher than Eu³⁺-doped niobium phosphate glasses. The analysis indicates that the lifetime of the ⁵D₀ level is found to be less sensitive to the Eu³⁺ ion concentration and addition of BaF₂ has no significant effect on the optical properties of Eu³⁺-doped phosphate glasses.     

Low-temperature wet chemical synthesis and photoluminescence properties of YVO4: Bi, Eu nanophosphors

YVO₄: Bi³⁺, Eu³⁺nanophosphors are prepared by the citrate-assisted low-temperature wet chemical synthesis. When the colloidal solution is aged at 60 °C, the crystalline YVO₄: Bi³⁺, Eu³⁺ nanorods are formed from the amorphous gel precursors, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). YVO₄: Bi³⁺, Eu³⁺ nanophosphors emit red through energy transfer from Bi³⁺ to Eu³⁺ under near-UV-light excitation. The emission intensity increases with increasing the fraction of the crystalline phase during aging. The excitation peak corresponding to Bi³⁺-V⁵⁺ charge transfer relative to those of O²⁻-V⁵⁺ and O²⁻-Eu³⁺ charge transfers gradually becomes strong until the completion of the crystallization, although the contents of individual Bi³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions incorporated into YVO₄ keep constant. When the aging is continued after the completion of the crystallization, the content of incorporated Bi³⁺ gradually increases, and hence the emission intensity decreases as a result of the energy migration among Bi³⁺ ions. These results suggest that in addition to the fraction of the crystalline phase and the contents of incorporated Bi³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions, the local chemical states around Bi³⁺ play significant roles in photoluminescence properties.     

Sol-gel preparation and photoluminescence property of YBO3:Eu/Tb nanocrystalline thin films

YBO₃:Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺ nanocrystalline thin films were successfully deposited onto quartz glass substrates by Pechini sol-gel dip-coating method, using rare-earth nitrates and boric acid as starting materials. The crystal structure, morphology, chemical composition and photoluminescence property of the films were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and fluorescence spectrophotometer. The results of XRD, AFM, XPS and FTIR revealed that the films were composed of spherical YBO₃:Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺ nanocrystals with average grain size of 80 nm. The YBO₃:Eu³⁺ film exhibited strong orange emission at 595 nm and red emission at 615 nm, which were, respectively ascribed to the (⁵D₀→⁷F₁) and (⁵D₀→⁷F₂) transitions of Eu³⁺. The YBO₃:Tb³⁺ film showed dominant green emission at 545 nm due to the ⁵D₄-⁷F₅ transition of Tb³⁺.     

Synthesis, structure and optical properties of Eu/TiO2 nanocrystals at room temperature

The nanocrystal samples of titanium dioxide doped with europium ion (Eu³⁺/TiO₂ nanocrystal) are synthesized by the sol-gel method with hydrothermal treatment. The Eu³⁺ contents (molar ratio) in the samples are 0, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4%. The X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectroscopy data and scanning electron microscope image show that crystallite size is reduced by the doping of Eu³⁺ into TiO₂. Comparing the Raman spectra of TiO₂ with Eu³⁺/TiO₂ (molar ratio Eu³⁺/TiO₂=1%, 2% and 4%) nanocrystals at different annealing temperatures indicates that the anatase-to-rutile phase transformation temperatures of Eu³⁺/TiO₂ nanocrystals are higher than that of TiO₂. This is due to the formation of Eu-O-Ti bonds on the surface of the TiO₂ crystallite, as characterized by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The photoluminescence spectra of TiO₂ in Eu³⁺/TiO₂ nanocrystals are interpreted by the surface self-trapped and defect-trapped exciton relaxation. The photoluminescence of Eu³⁺ in Eu³⁺/TiO₂ nanocrystals has the strongest emission intensity at 2% of Eu³⁺ concentration.     

Preparation and optical properties of Ag enwrapped Y2O3:Eu nanoparticles in solution and in powders

Ag enwrapped Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ nanoparticles were prepared by a wet chemistry method, which was dispersed in liquid (glycol) or dried to powders. Their luminescence properties were studied in comparison to those in the un-enwrapped ones. The results demonstrated that in glycol the ⁵D₀-⁷F₂ transitions for Ag enwrapped Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ nanoparticles became stronger than that for un-enwrapped ones, while the excitation charge transfer band shifted blue. On the contrary, the ⁵D₀-⁷F₂ transitions in Ag enwrapped Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ powders became weaker than those in the un-enwrapped ones. It was suggested that in liquid the Ag shells thinly deposited in the surface of Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ and insulated the Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ from the liquid, which contained large organic vibration modes. As a result, the surface nonradiative energy transfer from Eu³⁺ to the organic modes decreased, and emission intensity of ⁵D₀-⁷F₂ increased. In the Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ powders, the Ag shells absorbed the excitation light, leading to the decrease in excitation density and the intensity of ⁵D₀-⁷F₂.     

Effects of the homogeneous Bi doping process on photoluminescence properties of YVO4:Bi,Eu nanophosphor

YVO₄:Bi³⁺,Eu³⁺ nanophosphors at a high Bi³⁺ concentration of 15 at% are synthesized from a Bi³⁺ source, nitrates of yttrium and europium(III), and sodium orthovanadate(V) by a low-temperature aqueous precipitation in the presence of citrate ions. When an ethylene glycol solution of bismuth(III) nitrate is used as a Bi³⁺ source, YVO₄:Bi³⁺,Eu³⁺ nanophosphors of ∼20 nm in size crystallize during aging at 85 °C without any by-products where the contents of Bi³⁺ and Eu³⁺ incorporated into crystalline YVO₄ are close to the respective nominal contents, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry and X-ray fluorescent analysis. These nanophosphors show red emission corresponding to the f-f transition of Eu³⁺ under the excitation of Bi³⁺-V⁵⁺ charge transfer. When aging is continued after the completion of the crystallization, the photoluminescence intensity of nanophosphors reaches the constant value. This is the improved behavior in comparison to our previous work, where the photoluminescence intensity decreases after the prolonged aging because of the inhomogeneous doping of Bi³⁺ ions, and hence the concentration quenching.     

Crystal field effects on the photoluminescence properties of Y<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>La<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>VO<Subscript>4</Subscript>:Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript> phosphors

Y_1−x La _x VO₄:Eu³⁺ phosphors were synthesized using a solid-state reaction. The microstructure and surface morphology of the Y_1−x La _x VO₄:Eu³⁺ phosphors were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. PL measurements of these phosphors revealed the characteristic Eu³⁺ emissions due to ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ and ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transitions. The Y_1−x La _x VO₄:Eu³⁺ phosphors showed strong red emission at 619 nm, which radiated from the hypersensitive transition ⁵D₀–⁷F₂ of Eu³⁺ ions. In particular, the incorporation of La into the YVO₄ lattice could induce a remarkable increase in PL. The highest emission intensity was observed in Y_0.2La_0.8VO₄:Eu³⁺, whose brightness was increased by more than 100 fold compared to that of the LaVO₄:Eu³⁺ phosphors. The Y_1−x La _x VO₄:Eu³⁺ phosphors with highly enhanced luminescence are expected to have applications in display devices.     

Y2O3:Eu纳米晶中能量传递相互作用的研究

通过浓度猝灭曲线确定了引起Y₂O₃纳米晶中Eu³⁺发光浓度猝灭的是交换相互作用.测量了两种颗粒尺寸下Eu³⁺的⁵D₀—⁷F₂跃迁发光衰减曲线随掺杂浓度的变化,利用交换相互作用的理论衰减曲线对实验衰减曲线进行拟合.计算Eu³⁺离子的交换相互作用能量传递的效率,分析了Y₂O_{3关键词： 能量传递 2}O₃Eu纳米晶')" href="#">Y₂O₃Eu纳米晶 发光衰减     

Spectra of europium-doped yttrium oxide and yttrium vanadate phosphors

The spectral distributions of the visible absorption and fluorescence emission under electron beam excitation of Eu³⁺-doped (Y₂O₃) and (YVO₄) powders have been detected and analyzed. (Y₂O₃: Eu³⁺) has a cubicC crystal structure with a unit cell dimension a=10·61 Å. Its observed transitions from⁷ F ₀ to many upper states have been recognized; the observed number of Stark components is in agreement with that based on theC ₂ site symmetry of the Eu³⁺ ion in Y₂O₃. Eu³⁺-doped yttrium vanadate has a typical zircon tetragonal crystal structure with unit cell dimensions ofc=6·29 Å anda=7·11 Å. The observed transitions in (Eu³⁺: YVO₄) have been identified and assigned in accordance with theD _2d site symmetry of the Eu³⁺ ion in this lattice.The authors would like to express their deep gratitude to Professor G. F. J.Garlick, University of Hull, England, for offering experimental facilities in his Physics Department.     

Multiplesite structure and photoluminescence properties of Eu3+ doped MgO nanocrystals

MgO:Eu³⁺ nanocrystals with average diameter around 15 nm were prepared via a facile combustion method under a weak reductive atmosphere at temperature as low as 300°C. The photoluminescence spectra showed that the MgO:Eu³⁺ nanocrystals emit white light, the hypersensitive transition (⁵ D ₀→⁷ F _j of Eu³⁺) emission was prominent in the emission spectra resulting from the noinversion symmetry local site at which Eu³⁺ ions were located. Two kinds of luminescence sites of Eu³⁺ are identified by means of the fluorescence decay and site-selective spectroscopy. The excitation and absorption spectra indicated that the absorption of surface state decreased with the increase of Eu³⁺ concentration, meaning that the surface defect decreased through Eu³⁺ doping for some of them located at the disordered sites near the surface or absorbed at the surface of MgO host. Meanwhile, absorptivity and CIE chromaticity coordinates of all samples were measured; the results were in accordance with the excitation and absorption spectra and photoluminescence spectra, respectively.     

Luminescent properties of PEG-added nanocrystalline YVO4:Eu phosphor prepared by a hydrothermal method

In an effort to obtain enhanced luminescence under photoexcitation as well as to clarify the underlying correlation between non-radiative sites and a surface modifier in a nanoscale phosphor, YVO₄:Eu³⁺ was synthesized via a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-assisted hydrothermal process. The temperature variable photoluminescence reveals that the overall emission behaviors of PEG-added YVO₄:Eu³⁺ phosphor was similar to those of a post-annealed sample without PEG addition. This polymeric agent induces a rough thin layer onto the YVO₄:Eu³⁺ nanoparticle during synthetic procedure, resulting in the prevention of surface-adsorbed species known as non-radiative sites such as NH₄⁺ as well as hydroxyl groups.     

The luminescence enhancement of Eu3+ ion and SnO2 nanocrystal co-doped solben gel SiO2 films

SnO₂ nanocrystal and rare-earth Eu³⁺ ion co-doped SiO₂ thin films are prepared by sol-gel and spin coating methods. The formation of tetragonal rutile structure SnO₂ nanocrystals with a uniform distribution is confirmed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is used to investigate the densities of the hydroxyl groups, and it is found that the emission intensity from the ⁵D₀-⁷F₂ transitions of the Eu³⁺ ions is enhanced by two orders of magnitude due to energy transfer from the oxygen-vacancy-related defects of the SnO₂ nanocrystals to nearby Eu³⁺ ions. The influences of the amounts of Sn and the post-annealing temperatures are systematically evaluated to further understand the mechanism of energy transfer. The luminescence intensity ratio of Eu³⁺ ions from electric dipole transition and magnetic dipole transition indicate the different probable locations of Eu³⁺ ions in the sol-gel thin film, which are further discussed based on temperature-dependent photoluminescence measurements.     

Controlled oxidation of graphite to graphene oxide with novel oxidants in a bulk scale

A series of different concentrations of Eu³⁺ and Dy³⁺ ions co-doping yttrium vanadate phosphors coated with Fe₃O₄ (YVO₄:Eu³⁺, Dy³⁺@Fe₃O₄) was successful prepared by using two steps route including sol?Cgel method and hydrothermal method. The resulting phase formation, particle morphology, structure, luminescent, and magnetic properties were examined by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence spectra, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The results indicate that the diameter of the YVO₄:Eu³⁺, Dy³⁺@Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites is 100?C300?nm. The special saturation magnetization Ms of the nanocomposites is 53?emu/g. Additionally, the emission intensities of YVO₄:Eu³⁺ or Dy³⁺ ions are regularly changed with the emission doping concentrations. After coating with Fe₃O₄, the variation of the luminescent intensity of YVO₄:Eu³⁺, Dy³⁺@Fe₃O₄ magnetic phosphors is different.     

Role of Al or Eu on thermoluminescence of Al- and/or Eu-doped SiO2 crystals

Although SiO₂ crystals have been used in electroluminescence devices and thermoluminescence (TL) dosimeters, the emission mechanism of TL has not yet been clearly explained. Recently, as we could get amorphous and highly pure SiO₂ prepared by the sol-gel method, we have investigated the TL emission mechanism using Al³⁺- and/or Eu³⁺-doped SiO₂ crystalline samples prepared by the heat-treatment under much lower temperature that the melting point of SiO₂. The TL spectrum of the Eu³⁺-doped sample displayed several peaks, including two main peaks due to the electron transitions from ⁵D₂ to ⁷F₅ (ca. 570 nm) and from ⁵D₀ to ⁷F₂ (ca. 610 nm). As doping concentration increased, all the peak intensities reduced from maximum values except that due to the electron transition from ⁵D₀ to ⁷F₂. These observations are thought to result from a cross-relaxation process due to the lack of inversion symmetry at the Eu³⁺ site.