SmVO4 nanocrystals with dodecahedral shape: Controlled synthesis, growth mechanism and photoluminescent properties

Dodecahedral SmVO 4 nanocrystals with uniform size had been successfully synthesized by a facile hydrothermal process in the presence of potassium hydroxide and urea. The dodecahedron-like SmVO 4 was characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence. The possible growth mechanism of the SmVO 4 nanocrystals with dodecahedral shape was discussed. Under excitation at 315   nm, the SmVO 4 sample exhibits strong orange emission while it as the host doped with suitable amount of Eu 3+ ions shows strong reddish orange emission. The diversity in emission intensity detected from SmVO 4 : x% Eu 3+ (x   =   1, 3, 5, 7) was compared. The hydrothermal method for preparing dodecahedral SmVO 4 nanocrystals provides us an idea to synthesize other rare earth orthovanadate nanomaterials with special morphology and interesting optical property.