Preparation, photoluminescent properties and luminescent dynamics of BaAlF5:Eu2+ nanophosphors

• BaAlF5:Eu2+ nanophosphors were synthesized via a mild hydrothermal process.
• The Van and Huang models were used to research the mechanism of concentration quenching.
• The optimum doping concentration of Eu2+ was confirmed to be 5 mol%.

Eu2+-doped BaAlF5 nanophosphors were synthesized via a facile one-pot hydrothermal method. The final products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. XRD results showed that the prepared samples are single-phase. The FE-SEM and TEM images indicated that the prepared BaAlF5:Eu2+ nanophosphors are composed of many rice-shaped particles with an average diameter of 40 nm. When excited at 260 nm, BaAlF5:Eu2+ nanophosphors exhibit the sharp line emissions of Eu2+ at room temperature. The optimum doping concentration of Eu2+ was confirmed to be 5 mol%. The Van and Huang models were used to study the mechanism of concentration quenching and the electric dipole–dipole interaction between Eu2+ can be deduced to be a dominant for quenching fluorescence in BaAlF5:Eu2+ nanophosphors. The strong ultraviolet emission of Eu2+ in BaAlF5:Eu2+ nanophosphors suggests that these nanoparticles may have potential applications for sensing, spectrometer calibration and solid-state lasers.

Rice-shaped BaAlF5:Eu2+ nanophosphors were synthesized via one-pot hydrothermal process. The as-prepared BaAlF5:Eu2+ are composed of many particles with an average diameter of 40 nm. When excited at 260 nm, the sharp line emission located at 361 nm of Eu2+ was observed. The optimum doping concentration of Eu2+ was confirmed to be 5 mol%. The strong ultraviolet emission of Eu2+ ions in BaAlF5:Eu2+ nanoparticles suggests that these nanoparticles may have potential applications for sensing, solid-state lasers and spectrometer calibration.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide