Investigation of the Effect of Sb3+ Ion on the Spectroscopic Properties of Eu3+-Doped YVO4 Nanosized Materials.

This paper discusses the origin of emission quenching in yttrium orthovanadate codoped with Eu3+ and Sb3+ ions. Highly crystalline yttrium orthovanadate nanoparticles with chemical composition Y1-x-yEuxSbyVO4 (x = 0-5.4 mol %, y = 0-2.1 mol %) were prepared using the modified Pechini's method. The particles' structural and morphological properties were studied using X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Moreover, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to determine the oxidation state and surface bonding of individual ions in the obtained materials. The photoluminescence spectral and dynamical properties were investigated in detail. The observed Eu3+ luminescence depreciation is ascribed to reabsorption mediated by a low-lying Sb3+-to-V5+ metal-to-metal charge transfer state in conjunction with lattice defects absorbing in the visible spectral region.