Shape Controlled Synthesis and Photoluminescence Properties of Eu³⁺-Doped REVO₄ Nanophosphors

Eu³⁺-doped REVO₄ nanphosphors were controllably synthesized by an EDTA-mediated hydrothermal method at 180 °C using RE(NO₃)₃ and Na₃VO₄ as precursors. The obtained products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The XRD results showed that the products were pure tetragonal structure and no other impurity phase appeared. The PL studies demonstrated Eu³⁺ ions doping effectively enhanced luminescent properties of La _x RE_1−x VO₄ and Y _x RE_1−x VO₄ nanoparticles, but Eu³⁺ ions doping did not enhance luminescent properties of Ce _x RE_1−x VO₄ (x ≠ 0) nanoparticles. The prepared phosphors showed well-defined red luminescence due to radiative transitions from ⁵D₀ to ⁷F _J (J = 1, 2) levels of Eu³⁺ ions, respectively. Furthermore, we reported Eu³⁺-doped Ce _x RE_1−x VO₄ (x ≠ 0) phases represented a new class of optically inactive materials.