Photoluminescence of a novel Na^sub 3^Y(VO^sub 4^)^sub 2^:Eu^sup 3+^ red phosphor for near ultraviolet light emitting diodes application

A novel Na3Y(VO4)2:Eu3+ phosphor was synthesized by the conventional solid-state reaction method. The phase formation and particle morphology were characterized through X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope, respectively. Photoluminescence (PL) characteristics such as excitation, emission, diffused reflectance spectra and decay curves, as well as temperature dependence of the PL spectra were investigated. Under the excitation of near ultraviolet (near-UV, 395 nm) and blue (466 nm) light, the Na3Y(VO4)2:Eu3+ phosphor can emit intense red emission, and the optimal doping concentration of Eu3+ ions is about 50 mol %. The major concentration quenching mechanism is determined to be the dipole-dipole interaction. The emission intensity of Na3Y0.5(VO4)2:0.5Eu3+ phosphor is much superior to the commercial Y2O3:Eu3+ under the near-UV excitation, and the luminescence intensity at 200 °C remains 74 % of T = 25 °C. The obtained results suggest that Na3Y(VO4)2:Eu3+ might serve as a promising red phosphor in white-light emitting diodes and display application.