Inorganic luminescent materials have found many practical applications ranging from full colour displays to optical communication systems. Recently, the synthesis and the spectroscopic properties of nanocrystals and nanocrystalline layers of these compounds have attracted considerable interest due to their unique physical or chemical properties and their potential application in new optoelectronic devices and in bio-medical areas.

Europium doped yttrium vanadate (YVO₄:Eu) is an efficient red emitting phosphor and is widely used in colour television and fluorescent lamps. Here, we present a novel strategy for the synthesis of luminescent YVO₄:Eu nanocrystals based on the precipitation in ionic liquids (ILs) as reaction media. The solvent is able to limit the growth of the particles and to form a stabilizing shell on the surface thus preventing particle aggregation. Due to the weakly coordinating properties of ILs, a complete removal after the synthesis should be much easier compared to standard coordinating solvents. Electron diffraction and X-ray powder diffraction patterns of the prepared nanocrystals can be identified as a tetragonal wakefieldite phase. Morphology and size of the nanoparticles were examined by electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The results evidence primary particles, 15 nm in diameter and a low degree of agglomeration. Photoluminescence spectra of the samples show strong emission of red light under UV-excitation.

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