Simple Methods to Synthesize YVO4 Nanocrystals or Microcrystals without Any Templates or Surfactants

Abstract

YVO4 crystals with different sizes and shapes were produced through hydrothermal treatment and sonication method without any surfactants or templates. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and photoluminescence (PL) were used to characterize the obtained products. YVO4 nanocrystals with spindle-like shape had been produced through the two different treating methods. YVO4 crystals, which are bipyramid-capped and micrometer-sized, had been obtained through a simple hydrothermal treatment. Uniform microsized cuboids had been produced through hydrothermal treatment with the final pH value = 2.5. The effects of different final pH values on the shape and crystallinity of products were studied. To determine photoluminescence performances, Eu3+(5%)-doped YVO4 nanocrystals had been synthesized through different methods in various environments and it had been confirmed that crystallinity would affect photoluminescence intensity.