Biphasic Sol-Gel Synthesis of Microstructured/Nanostructured YVO:Eu Materials and Their HO Sensing Ability.

Microstructured/nanostructured YVO:Eu powders and films were synthesized through a biphasic sol-gel method, aiming at their application as HO sensing materials based on the turn-off luminescence of Eu ions. The synthesis was typically carried out at temperatures of 80 °C or lower by using organic solutions to dissolve vanadium alkoxide and aqueous solutions to dissolve yttrium and europium salts together with sodium carboxylates. The resultant crystalline YVO:Eu powders and films were characterized as containing micrometer-sized particles comprising primary nanoparticles with high specific surface areas.