Influence of the variation Yb3+ concentration and sintering temperature in GdVO4: Tm3+/Yb3+ blue emission phosphors

Abstract Gd 0.99-x VO 4 :Tm 3+ 0.01 /Yb 3+ x phosphors with different Yb 3+ concentration (0.01–0.07 mol) and sintering temperatures (450–600 °C) were synthesized by the planetary ball milling method. The structural properties were analyzed using the X-ray diffraction patterns, which conform the poly phase with Na 3 Gd(VO 4 ) 2 and GdVO 4 . Upconversion luminescence was investigated under the 975 nm laser diode. The upconversion spectra of Gd 0.99-x VO 4 :Tm 3+ 0.01 /Yb 3+ x show two emission peak in 1 G 4  →  3 H 6 (477 nm, blue) and 3 H 4  →  3 H 6 (802 nm, NIR) of the Tm 3+ transitions, together with the 2 F 5/2  →  2 F 7/2 transition of Yb 3+ . Gd 0.92 VO 4 :Tm 3+ 0.01 /Yb 3+ 0.07 phosphor sintered at 600 °C is expected to find potential applications such as blue LED by the near infra-red (NIR) excitation.