Effect of the soft-template agents on size, shape and optical properties of YVO4:Eu3+ nanomaterials

Thu Huong Tran, Kim Anh Tran, Thu Hien Pham, Thi Vinh Le and Quoc Minh Le

Abstract

Recently YVO₄:Eu³⁺ nanophosphors have attracted more and more attention because of the scientific interest in them and their potential applications in optoelectronics, laser physics, and especially in agrobiology and medicine. In this work we investigated the effect of soft-template agent on size and properties of YVO₄:Eu³⁺ nanoparticles. By using hexadecyltrimethyllammonium bromide (HTAB), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT), the sizes of YVO₄:Eu³⁺ nanoparticles could be controlled in the range from 12 to 16 nm. The fluorescent intensity of YVO₄:Eu³⁺ nanoparticles synthesized in the presence of HTAB, SDS or AOT strongly increased. The structure and morphology of YVO₄:Eu³⁺ nanophosphors have been characterized by x-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The novel fluorescent YVO₄:Eu³⁺ nanocrystals with reduced size to around 15 nm become more effective toward the development of an ultrahigh sensitive fluorescent label in immunoassay for bioactive molecules, cells and tissues