Tunable photoluminescence and magnetic properties of Dy3+ and Eu3+ doped GdVO4 multifunctional phosphors

Abstract

A series of Dy³⁺ or/and Eu³⁺ doped GdVO₄ phosphors were successfully prepared by a simple hydrothermal method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The results indicate that the as-prepared samples are pure tetragonal phase GdVO₄, taking on nanoparticles with an average size of 45 nm. Under ultraviolet (UV) light excitation, the individual Dy³⁺ or Eu³⁺ ion activated GdVO₄ phosphors exhibit excellent emission properties in their respective regions. The mechanism of energy transfer from the VO₄³⁻ group and the charge transfer band (CTB) to Dy³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions is proposed. Color-tunable emissions in GdVO₄:Dy³⁺,Eu³⁺ phosphors are realized through adopting different excitation wavelengths or adjusting the appropriate concentration of Dy³⁺ and Eu³⁺ when excited by a single excitation wavelength. In addition, the as-prepared samples show paramagnetic properties at room temperature. This kind of multifunctional color-tunable phosphor has great potential applications in the fields of photoelectronic devices and biomedical sciences.