For the first time the segregation of doped ions in YVO4:Pr3+ and YVO4:Er3+,Yb3+ nanocrystals was revealed by means of spectroscopic techniques. Luminescence spectra are modified due to doped ions redistribution within nanocrystal volume. Variation of heat treatment temperature allows us to determine the diffusion-depended nature of observed doped ions redistribution within the volume of nanocrystal and to trace this process.
Optical Materials 34(12), 1998–2001 (2012)

Strong temperature controlled segregation of doped ions in Y2SiO5:Pr3+ nanocrystals detected by spectroscopic techniques is reported. The elastic interactions stimulate Pr3+ segregation thus leading to non-uniform distribution of doped ions, pair formation and, as a consequence, to abnormal low threshold of luminescence concentration quenching for Y2SiO5:Pr3+ nanocrystals.
Journal of Luminescence ,132(9), 2443–2446 (2012)