Synthesis, energy transfer mechanism, and tunable emissions of novel Na3La(VO4)2:Re3+ (Re3+ = Dy3+, Eu3+, and Sm3+) vanadate phosphors for near-UV-excited white LEDs

Abstract In this study, novel Eu3+-, Dy3+-, and Sm3+-activated Na3La(VO4)2 phosphors were synthesized using a solid state reaction method. X-ray diffraction analysis results indicated that the Na3La(VO4)2 phosphors had an orthorhombic crystal structure with the Pbc21 space group. There were two different La(1)O8 and La(2)O8 polyhedra with high asymmetry in the crystal structure. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the product had a sheet morphology with an irregular particle size. Further, the luminescence properties, including the excitation and emission spectra, and luminescence decay curve, were investigated using a fluorescence spectrometer. The results showed that the Na3La(VO4)2 compound was an excellent host for activating the luminescence of Eu3+ (614 nm), Dy3+ (575 nm), and Sm3+ (647 nm) ions. Further, Dy3+/Eu3+ co-doped Na3La(VO4)2 phosphors were exploited, and the energy transfer from Dy3+ to Eu3+ was demonstrated in detail by the photoluminescence excitation, photoluminescence spectra, and luminescent decay curves. The results showed that the energy transfer efficiency from Dy3+ to Eu3+ was highly efficient, and the energy transfer mechanism was dipole–dipole interactions. Finally, tunable emissions from the yellow region of CIE (0.3925, 0.4243) to the red region of CIE (0.6345, 0.3354) could be realized by rationally controlling the Dy3+/Eu3+ concentration ratio. These phosphors may be promising materials for the development of solid-state lighting and display systems.