Structural and optical properties of fluorescent BaFBr-Eu2+@SiO2 core/shell phosphor heterostructure

• Optimal parameters for preparation of core-shell BaFBr:Eu2+@SiO2 are presented here.
• BaFBr:Eu2+ grains size of about 30 nm and 11 nm SiO2 shell thickness were prepared.
• The core-shell heterostructure exhibits Eu2+ luminescence at 385 nm.

Core-shell composites BaFBr:Eu2+@SiO2 were synthesized starting from BaFBr:Eu2+ nanophosphor powder prepared by precipitation method, followed by a silica gel coating process. Electron microscopy investigations have shown an average BaFBr:Eu2+ grains size of about 30 nm and 11 nm SiO2 shell thickness. The core-shell heterostructure exhibits Eu2+ luminescence at 385 nm that is improved during subsequent calcination at high temperatures up to 700 °C; the core-shell morphology (size and thickness) structure is preserved during the calcination.