Synthesis and fluorescence properties of cerium–KMgF3 through a solvothermal process

Phosphor of KMgF3:Ce3+ is synthesized through solvothermal method at 180 °C and characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and environment scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is applied to the study of the energy band structure of KMgF3:Ce3+ and confirms the oxygen content of the product is very low. The fluorescence spectra of the rare-earth ion-doped KMgF3 is investigated by the fluorescence spectrophotometer. In the emission spectra, there is a broadband emission with a maximum center located at 306 nm arising from d-f transition of Ce3+ in the host. This will be useful for ultraviolet tunable lasers.