Spectral properties and emission efficiencies of GdVO 4 phosphors

GdVO4 with activators Eu, Dy, Sm and Bi has been synthesised by a solid-state reaction. GdVO4:Eu3+ (3%) yielded the highest quantum efficiency of 95%. Interesting energy-transfer properties have been revealed in the mixed-activator phosphor (GdVO4:Eu3+, Sm3+) when excited in the 4f shell of Sm3+ at 408 nm. Bismuth-activated GdVO4 gives rise to a broad-band emission peaking at 525 nm in comparison to YVO4:Bi3+, which gives an emission peak at 570 nm under UV excitation. The quantum efficiency of GdVO4:Bi3+ increases gradually with bismuth concentration and reaches a maximum of 80% for a bismuth concentration of ≈0.5%. There is a shift in the excitation band of GdVO4:Bi3+ towards longer wavelengths with increasing concentration of bismuth, which can lead to energy transfer from bismuth to europium in a phosphor with both these activators. Heat treatment of GdVO4:Bi3+ at 1500 °C for 3–3.5 h resulted in a large percentage of bismuth being lost from the lattice as evaluated by X-ray fluorescence. However, if a large percentage of bismuth (of the order of 3% or more) is initially added, a sufficient quantity of bismuth can still be retained after heat treatment, which can lead to the development of ceramic scintillators for X-ray tomographic applications. Addition of 3–5% boron gives a white GdVO4 phosphor without any chemical treatment.