Size-dependent energy transfer and spontaneous radiative transition properties of Dy3+ ions in the GdVO4 phosphors

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology 2013-06, Vol.15 (6), Article 1757
• Main Authors: Tian, Yue, Chen, Baojiu, Tian, Bining, Mao, Yuanbing, Sun, Jiashi, Li, Xiangping, Zhang, Jinsu, Fu, Shaobo, Zhong, Hua, Dong, Bin, Zhang, Xiangqing, Xia, Haiping, Hua, Ruinian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Inorganic Chemistry; Lasers; Materials Science; Nanocrystalline materials; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanoscale materials: clusters, nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanocrystals; Nanotechnology; Optical Devices; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of low-dimensional, mesoscopic, and nanoscale materials and structures; Optics; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Research Paper; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-013-1757-4

Bulk and nanosized GdVO 4 :Dy 3+ phosphors were prepared via a simple co-precipitation process, and their crystal structure, morphology, and spectral properties were studied. It is found that electric dipole–dipole interaction was hindered in the nanosized samples based on the analysis of the dependence of luminescent intensity on the Dy 3+ doping concentration. The decay time of the 4 F 9/2 level in the nanosized GdVO 4 :2 mol% Dy 3+ sample is determined to be longer than that in the 0.3 mol% Dy 3+ doped bulk sample. Moreover, the fluorescent lifetime of this level in the nanosized sample is strongly dependent on the index of refraction of the medium surrounding the nanoparticles, and a 0.68 filling factor was obtained. The intrinsic radiative lifetimes and internal quantum efficiencies of the 4 F 9/2 level of Dy 3+ in the nanosized and bulk samples were obtained, which indicate that the internal quantum efficiency of nanosized sample is higher than that of the bulk sample, but the external quantum efficiency is lower.