Eu₅VO₁₀: Synthesis Methods and Characterization of Basic Physicochemical Properties

Rare-earth vanadates constitute an important class of functional materials with potential applications as luminophores, in optoelectronics and catalysis. The research for this work was inspired by the incomplete literature data, including the synthesis, structure and physicochemical properties of europium(III) vanadate(V) with the general formula Eu₅VO₁₀. The primary goal of this work was to supplement the missing data about this compound and identify its potential applications. This compound was synthesized using three methods, including waste-free methods: ceramic, mechanochemical and a modified Pechini method. The obtained Eu₅VO₁₀ was characterized using XRD, DTA-TG, FTIR, UV-Vis-DRS, SEM and gas pycnometry. It was settled that Eu₅VO₁₀ crystallizes in the monoclinic system and is thermally stable up to a temperature of approximately 1310 °C, above which it decomposes in the solid phase. Estimated energy gap (E_g) values ranged from ~3.21 eV to ~3.53 eV depending on the synthesis method used, allowing Eu₅VO₁₀ to be classified as a wide-bandgap electrical semiconductor. The results also showed that the synthesis method affects the crystallite size of the synthesized compound. The development of synthesis methods and characterization of Eu₅VO₁₀ expands our understanding of rare-earth vanadates and their potential applications as functional materials.