Dy3+ activated LaVO4 films synthesized by precursors with different solution concentrations

Using different-solution-concentration precursors with citric acid as chelating agent and polyvinyl alcohol as dispersing media, Dy3+ activated LaVO4 films were deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates. The scanning electronic microscope (SEM) showed that the compact and crack-free LaVO4:Dy3+ film could be obtained at a suitable solution concentration. The deposited films could absorb the ultraviolet light below 400 nm and were transparent in the visible and infrared region as evidenced by the transmission spectra, and the photoluminescence spectra exhibited the characteristic emissions of Dy3+ peaking at 484 (blue) and 576 (yellow) nm due to the transitions of 4F9/2→6H15/2 and 4F9/2→6H13/2, respectively. The potential application of LaVO4:Dy3+ film in the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was also discussed.