Multicolor luminescent GdVO4:Ln3+ (Ln = Eu, Dy and Sm) nanophosphors prepared by a protected calcination method

Abstract Multicolor GdVO4:Ln3+ (Ln = Eu, Dy and Sm) nanophosphors with high crystallinity and good luminescence properties were prepared using a protected calcination method. The as-prepared nanophosphors consist of well-crystallized tetragonal phase and show cubic morphology with uniform size around 50 nm. Under the excitation of ultraviolet (UV) light, the nanophosphors doped with different lanthanide ions exhibit strong and characteristic emissions of different colors in the visible spectral region. The characteristic luminescence properties of these GdVO4:Ln3+ nanophosphors are assigned to the intense absorption of UV light through the vanadate group (VO43−), followed by efficient energy transfer to the inside Ln3+ emitters. This protected calcination approach could overcome the current key barriers in regard to high crystallinity oxide nanoparticle synthesis, and will facilitate the broad use of these multicolor nanophosphors in nanostructured devices and biotechnological applications.