Synthesis and Spectra Properties of YVO4:Eu Nanoparticles

YVO4 and Eu3+-doped YVO4 nanoparticles were synthesized via hydrothermal method, using Y(NO3)3·6H2O, Eu2O3, NH4VO3, and Na3C6H5O7·2H2O as starting materials. The structure and morphology of the resulting products were characterized by XRD, FESEM, TEM, HRTEM and SAED, while the spectra properties of the products were investigated by FT-IR spectrometer and fluorescence spectrometer. The results indicate that as-prepared products are crystallized in pure body centered tetragonal YVO4 phase with uniform caky morphologies and the sizes of the samples are estimated to be around 500 nm. XRD patterns of the as-fabricated Eu3+-doped YVO4 nanoparticles show that Eu3+ is doped at Y3+ sites in YVO4 crystal. There is no emission peak of VO43- from fluorescence spectrum of YVO4: Eu nanoparticles, which indicates that YVO4 is a very attractive luminescent host. Hydrothermal method is convenient and easy, and the as-prepared YVO4:Eu nanoparticles show strong and stable fluorescent intensity. It can be expected that the YVO4:Eu nanoparticles have potential application in electroluminescent devices, integrated optics or biological labels.