Facile Preparation of YVO4: RE Films and the Investigation of Photoluminescence

Abstract

Facile preparation of YVO4 films was hydrothermally achieved within 1 h by using layered yttrium hydroxide (Y2(OH)5NO3·nH2O) films as the sacrificial precursor in the presence of excess NaVO3 at pH~8, without subsequent heat treatment. Detailed structures and optical properties of the products were obtained by using a combination of XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM, HR-TEM, and PLE/PL techniques. The phase and morphological evolution from Y2(OH)5NO3·nH2O to YVO4 was unveiled by varying the reaction time. Photoluminescence spectra showed that the Eu3+ doped YVO4 films exhibited the characteristic emission of Eu3+, with the transition 5D0–7F2 (614 nm, red) being the dominant; while Dy3+ activator doped YVO4 films exhibited the characteristic emission of Dy3+, with the transition 4F9/2–6H13/2 (575 nm, green) being the most dominant.