Polymer-assisted chemical solution approach to YVO4:Eu nanoparticle networks

Abstract

Phosphor YVO₄:Eu nanoparticle networks were synthesized using water soluble ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) as binding ligands. The morphology, particle size, BET surface area, and photoluminescence of YVO₄:Eu processed at different annealing temperatures (500, 600, 700, and 800 °C) and EDTA/PEI mass ratios (1 : 4, 1 : 2.5, 1 : 2, 1 : 1.5, 1 : 1, 2 : 1, and 4 : 1) were determined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence spectrophotometer, and N₂ adsorption and desorption. The red emission was observed with increasing the annealing temperature. Importantly, the nanoparticles did not aggregate at high annealing temperatures up to 800 °C. The smallest size of the YVO₄:Eu nanoparticles is about 18 nm and the surface area is 35 m² g⁻¹ with the EDTA/PEI mass ratios of 1 : 1–2.5.