Inorganic matrices have been extensively studied for several applications, mainly doped with lanthanoid ions presenting special spectroscopic properties. The radiation emission can be affected by several factors, such as; matrix, synthesis methodology, activating ions and sensitizers, and concentrations. Thus, in this work the matrix of yttrium vanadate doped with Eu3+ ions as activator and Bi3+ ions as sensitizer was prepared by the non-hydrolytic sol-gel methodology. Europium (III) and Bismuth (III) ions concentrations were varied in 1, 3 and 5% in mol with respect to the Y3+ ion and the samples were heat treated at 1000 °C. The X-ray diffraction analyzes showed a single phase of the yttrium vanadate matrix, indicating the non-influence of the dopant ions on the crystalline structure. The dopants concentrations presented influences on the spectroscopic properties of the emitting ion, the intensity parameters (Ω2 e Ω4), increased as a function of the increase of Bi3+ concentration, affecting the covalence of the bond and the rigidity of the system. The increase of Eu3+ concentration directly affected its environment, decreasing the symmetry and increasing the quantum efficiency. Finally, increasing the dopant ions promoted the decreasing the crystallite size.
Keywords:
sol-gel non-hydolytic; Judd-Ofelt parameter; lifetime; quantum efficience