White light from dispersible lanthanide-doped LaVO4 core–shell nanoparticles

Abstract

White light has been generated from dispersible lanthanide ion-doped LaVO₄ core–shell nanoparticles by using a single UV excitation source. The core–shell nanoparticles are excited with single wavelength 280 nm UV light, in which the energy transfer from [VO₄]³⁻ groups to Ln³⁺ ions occurs to produce bright white light. The absolute quantum yields of LaVO₄:Tm³⁺/Tb³⁺/Eu³⁺ (Type 1) and LaVO₄:Tm³⁺/Dy³⁺ (Type 2) core–shell nanoparticles have been estimated as 5% and 7% respectively. The control core nanoparticles doped with all the lanthanide ions did not produce white light which proves the need of a core–shell structure. The core–shell structure of LaVO₄ nanoparticles has been investigated by TEM, EDX, XRF, and PL spectroscopy techniques.