Optical processes in (Y,Bi)VO4 doped with Eu3+ or Pr3+

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Solid-State Chemistry
• Luminescence Spectroscopy

Background:

• Zircon and fergusonite vanadates are promising materials for optical applications.
• Doping with rare-earth ions like Eu(3+) and Pr(3+) can modify their luminescent properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize zircon and fergusonite vanadates doped with Eu(3+) or Pr(3+).
• To investigate the optical properties and luminescence mechanisms of these materials at different temperatures.
• To explore host sensitization effects and their temperature dependence.

Main Methods:

• Solid-state synthesis and co-precipitation methods were employed for material preparation.
• Optical properties were investigated using luminescence spectroscopy at 300 K and 77 K.
• Luminescence mechanisms were analyzed by combining host and dopant energy level schemes.

Main Results:

• Fergusonite BiVO4 exhibits deep red luminescence at 77 K upon excitation.
• Eu(3+)-doped fergusonite and zircon vanadates show host sensitization at 77 K, which diminishes at 300 K.
• Luminescence in (Y, Bi)VO4:Pr(3+) (zircon) includes host emission and Pr(3+) characteristic lines, tunable by composition and excitation wavelength.

Conclusions:

• The study elucidates the luminescence mechanisms in doped zircon and fergusonite vanadates.
• Host sensitization is a temperature-dependent phenomenon influenced by host-band edge states and self-quenching.
• Tunable optical properties in (Y, Bi)VO4:Pr(3+) suggest potential for applications in lighting and display technologies.