Effects of Impurities on the Luminescence Processes in YVO[sub 4]: Eu

Effects of impurities on the photoluminescence, cathodoluminescence, and thermoluminescence of are investigated. Such impurities as Zr, Th, Mo, or W that would give charge defects in the crystal lattice lead to strong quenching of cathodoluminescence, weak or no quenching of photoluminecence at room temperature, and remarkable change of the glow curve. Energy transfer from lattice to Eu by way of excited Eu‐O state that is sensitive to trapping by charge defects in the lattice is proposed from the specific quenching of photoluminescence below glow‐peak temperature in the Mo‐ or W‐doped phosphor.