Crystalline and cathodoluminescent characteristics of Li-doped GdVO4:Eu3+ red phosphor powders

GdVO4:Eu3+ and Li-doped GdVO4:Eu3+ phosphor powders have been studied as potential red phosphors for application to field emission displays. GdVO4:Eu3+ (the molar ratio of Eu3+ = 0.03) and corresponding Li-doped (nominal molar ratio of Li+ = 0.03) phosphors were synthesized by using a solid-state reaction method. The influence of Li doping on the crystallization and cathodoluminescent properties of GdVO4:Eu3+ powder phosphors were investigated. This phosphor showed cathodoluminescent brightness and crystallization increases when Li ions were doped. The relationship between the crystalline and the cathodoluminescent properties were studied, i.e., Li+ doping effectively enhanced not only crystallization but also the cathodoluminescent brightness of GdVO4:Eu3+ powders. Compared to GdVO4:Eu3+, the cathodoluminescent brightness of the Li-doped GdVO4:Eu3+ powder was increased by a factor of 2.1 at 1 kV.