Synthesis and luminescence properties behavior of Eu(3+)-doped nanocrystalline and bulk GdVO4 phosphors by high-energy ball milling and solid state reaction.

Europium-doped nanosized-GdVO4:Eu3+ powders and bulk GdVO4:Eu3+ powders were synthesized using a planetary ball mill and conventional solid state reaction method, respectively. The effects of the grain size on the crystallinity, morphology, structure and luminescence spectra were investigated by X-ray diffraction, field emission-scanning electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The room temperature PL spectra of the GdVO4:Eu3+ nanophosphors showed four emission bands at 611, 615, 619 and 595 nm. The bands at 611, 615 and 619 nm were assigned to the 5D0 --> 7F2 transition of the EU3+ ion when excited with 312 nm light.