Tunable luminescence and energy transfer properties in YVO 4 :Bi 3+ ,Ln 3+ (Ln = Dy, Sm, Eu) phosphors prepared by microwave sintering method

YVO 4 :Bi 3+ ,Ln 3+ (Ln = Dy, Sm, Eu) phosphors were successful synthesized by microwave sintering method, and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscope, photoluminescence spectra, lifetime, quantum efficiency and general structure analysis system structure refinement. Refinement results indicated that the introduced ions occupy the sites of Y 3+ . Under 275 nm excitation, the luminescent intensity of YVO 4 :Bi 3+ samples reach the maximum when Bi 3+ concentration is 0.02, the broad excitation spectrum of YVO 4 :Bi 3+ has a strongest peak at near 343 nm. Doped Bi 3+ can effectively improve the emission intensity of YVO 4 :Ln 3+ . The energy transfer mechanism of Bi 3+ → Ln 3+ was dipole-quadrupole mechanism of electric multipole interaction. The critical distance (R c ) between Ln 3+ and Bi 3+ were calculated by concentration quenching method. Emitting color of YVO 4 :Bi 3+ ,Ln 3+ phosphors were tunable by adjusting Ln 3+ content. In a word, the material has a good application prospects on light emitting diodes.