Morphology-sensitive photoluminescent properties of YVO4:Ln3+ (Ln3+ = Eu3+, Sm3+, Dy3+, Tm3+) hierarchitectures.

Novel three-dimensional YVO 4 :Ln3+ (Ln3+ = Eu3+, Sm3+, Dy3+, Tm3+) hierarchitectures were successfully fabricated on glass substrate by a simple, hydrothermal process by using disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Na 2 H 2 L, where L4− = (CH 2 COO) 2 N(CH 2) 2 N(CH 2 COO) 2 4−)) as a capping agent. The shape and size of product can be tailored by controlling the reaction time and the Na 2 H 2 L/Y3+ molar ratio. As a typical morphology, YVO 4 :Eu3+ shows a flower-like hiearchitecture, which is composed of a primary microrod trunk and a large number of secondary nanonails. The trunk is a rectangle prism with a length of 2 μm. The nanonail branch has a length of 400 nm and a diameter of 80 nm, and its cap has a diameter of 100 nm with a thickness of 20 nm. A possible formation mechanism of this flower-like hierarchical structure was proposed, and it is investigated in detail through time evolution experiments. Under UV radiation, the thin film samples were shown the emission characteristic of Eu3+ (5D 0 →7F 2 , 618 nm), Dy3+ (4F 9/2 → 6H 13/2 , 575 nm), Sm3+ (4G 5/2 → 6H 7/2 , 603 nm), Tm3+ (1G 4 →3H 6 , 478 nm), and morphology-sensitive photoluminescent properties. Image 1 • Flower-like YVO 4 :Ln3+ hierarchitectures were synthesized by hydrothermal method. • The formation mechanisms of different microstructures were proposed. • The as-prepared products show morphology-sensitive photoluminescent properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]