Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of YVO4:Yb3+,Er3+ microspheres

Abstract: In this paper, YVO4:Yb3+,Er3+ microspheres have been successfully prepared through a facile hydrothermal method assisted with disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and citric acid. X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy disperse X-ray spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence spectra were used to characterize the samples. The results reveal that the as-prepared YVO4:Yb3+,Er3+ samples are well-crystallized and spherical in shape. Moreover, the microspheres with diameters of 6–8μm are assembled by numerous submicron cuboids. Under the excitation of a 980nm laser diode, the samples show the characteristic emissions of Er3+ and the green emissions at 525nm of 2H11/2→4I15/2 are dominantly strong. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]