Synthesis, structural and optical properties of Eu3+–doped Ca2V2O7 nanophosphors

Europium doped calcium pyrovanadate nanoparticles Ca2V2O7:Eu3+, having a size of 57–63 nm, were synthesized using combustion process. Structure, morphological and optical properties of nanophosphors have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), fluorescence spectrometry (PL) and Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectroscopy. X-ray studies shows that a pure triclinic Ca2V2O7 phase was obtained at 900 °C temperature. The red emission observed at 620 nm upon excitation at 305 nm is due to hypersensitive transition 5D0 → 7F2 of luminescent activator Eu3+ location at a site with no inversion symmetry in Ca2V2O7 crystal lattice. High luminescent intensity and easy synthesis technique make this red phosphor a promising candidate for application as luminescent materials.