Luminescence study of a self-activated and rare earth activated Sr₃La(VO₄)₃ phosphor potentially applicable in W-LEDs

A novel Sr₃La(VO₄)₃ phosphor is explored which exhibits the bright self-activated luminescence and the ability to sensitize emission of rare earth activators, under the excitation of near UV light. The self-activated emission of the Sr₃La(VO₄)₃ host is peaked at 520 nm with a broad emission band ranging from 400 nm to 700 nm, ascribing to the charge transfer in (VO₄)³⁻ groups; while the Sr₃La(VO₄)₃:Eu³⁺ phosphors show both the broad band luminescence of (VO₄)³⁻ groups and the sharp peak emissions of Eu³⁺ ions. Through doping concentration optimization, intense warm white light is achieved under near UV excitation, with a quantum yield of 31.2%. This phosphor is therefore potentially applicable in near UV chip excited white LEDs.