Luminescence and structural properties of self-assembled Y(V,P)O-4:Eu3+@amorphous-K-VO3 core/shell nanophosphors

Abstract

A Liquid-Phase Precursor method followed by a 5% KOH solution treatment was employed for the facile synthesis of Y(V,P)O-4:Eu3+@amorphous-K-VO3 core/shell nanophosphors with non-stoichiometric composition Y-x(V0.44P0.56)O-4:Eu-0.1 (x = 0.855, 0.875, 0.90 and 0.965). It was observed that this non-stoichiometric composition approach leads to the control of the size, shape and unit cell parameters depending upon the Y concentration. The shell layer of 2-7 nm formed by alkaline solution treatment at room-temperature was observed by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The particle size grew up by 20-50 nm and the luminescence properties were enhanced by 9-31% after the KOH solution treatment. In contrast, the micro-sized Y(V,P)O-4:Eu3+ phosphors treated by the KOH solution did not show any change in their luminescence properties. This KOH solution treatment opens new possibilities to facilely synthesize Y(V,P)O-4:Eu3+@amorphous-K-VO3 core/shell nanophosphors with highly stable properties and improved luminescence. (C) 2013 The Ceramic Society of Japan. All rights reserved.