Synthesis and VUV Photoluminescence Characterization of (Y,Gd)(V,P)O4:Eu3+ as a Potential Red-emitting PDP Phosphor

YVO 4:Eu 3+ -based phosphors in three series with compositions (Y 1 - x Eu x )(V 1 - z P z )O 4, (Y 0.95 - y Gd y Eu 0.05 )(V 0.4 P 0.6 )O 4 and (Y 0.95 - y Eu 0.05 Gd y )(V 1 - z P z )O 4 were synthesized and investigated as potential red-emitting phosphors for a plasma display panel (PDP). The optimal substitution proportions of P for V and Gd for Y were determined to be 60 and 20 mol %, respectively, for (Y 0.95 - y Gd y )(V 1 - z P z )O 4 doped with 5 mol % Eu 3+ . The vacuum ultraviolet PL and PLE spectra and chromaticity characteristics for the synthesized phosphors were measured and compared against those of a commercial red-emitting phosphor. Pumping the (Y,Gd)(P,V)O 4:Eu 3+ phosphors at a wavelength of 172 nm is more efficient than that at 147 nm. For VUV excitation at 147 nm, the CIE chromaticity coordinates for our red-emitting (Y 1 - y Gd y )(V 0.4 P 0.6 )O 4:Eu 3+ are (0.6614,0.3286), as compared to (0.6443, 0.3613) for (Y,Gd)BO 3:Eu 3+ from Kasei Optonix Ltd. We suggest that the composition-optimized (Y 0.75 Gd 0.20 Eu 0.05 )(V 0.4 P 0.6 )O 4 can serve as an alternative phosphor to replace a widely used red-emitting commercial phosphor such as (Y,Gd)BO 3: Eu 3+ or Y 2 O 3: Eu 3+ .