Novel Energy-Transfer Route and Enhanced Luminescent Properties in YVO₄:Eu³⁺/YBO₃:Eu³⁺ Composite

In this paper, YVO 4:Eu 3+ /YBO 3:Eu 3+ composite was fabricated by chemical corrosion through a two-step hydrothermal process, i.e., first preparation of YBO 3:Eu 3+ nanocrystals and subsequent chemical corrosion by Na 3 VO 4 solution. A novel energy-transfer and luminescent route via UV and VUV excitation was identified (YBO 3 phase→ YVO 4 phase → Eu 3+ ions in the YVO 4 phase), which remained in the sample annealed at high temperature. In this composite high quantum yield was maintained, and considerably improved color purity was induced. A corrosive interface between the YVO 4:Eu 3+ and YBO 3:Eu 3+ phases was identified by the site-selective excitation technique, where the local environment surrounding Eu 3+ was extremely complex. It is believed that, through further optimization, this novel composite can be candidate phosphors for red PDPs and Hg-free fluorescent lamp in the future.