Novel red phosphors for solid state lighting; the system BixLn1−xVO4; Eu3+/Sm3+ (Ln=Y, Gd)

Solid solutions of vanadates of formula BixLn1−xVO4 (Ln=Y, Gd) doped with Eu3+ or Sm3+ ions have been synthesized by solid-state reactions. Intense red/orange-red luminescence is obtained in these samples on excitation in the broad charge-transfer band in the near UV. The excitation in the Eu3+ levels leads to much less intense red emission. These materials could find applications as red phosphors for solid-state white lighting devices utilizing GaN-based excitation in the near UV.