Green-to-red tunable luminescence of Eu3+-doped K3Y(VO4)2 phosphors

A series of K3Y(VO4)2:Eu3+ phosphors were synthesized by a high-temperature solid-state reaction method. The luminescence properties were characterized by means of photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra, CIE chromaticity, and concentration quenching. The excitation spectrum exhibits a broad band centered at about 324 nm in the region from 215 to 375 nm corresponding to an overlap of the charge transfer transitions of VO4 3− and O2− → Eu3+. The present phosphors exhibit green and red colors due to the host emissions of host and Eu3+ ions. The intensity ratio of 5D0 → 7F2 to 5D0 → 7F1 is highly dependent on the Eu3+ ions concentration due to the structure change of host. Eu3+-doped K3Y(VO4)2 phosphors show tunable CIE color coordinates from green to red dependent on Eu3+ content and excitation wavelength. The ideal red and warm white lights have been obtained from the phosphors by appropriately adjusted excitation wavelength. The results indicate that K3Y(VO4)2:Eu3+ is potential phosphors for white light-emitting diodes applications and color display devices.