Hydrothermal synthesis and spectral properties of Ce3+ and Eu2+ ions doped KMgF3 phosphor

•A facile preparation method of phosphors of KMgF3 doped Eu or/and Ce.•Their structural characterization.•Their luminescent properties of the rare-earth ion-doped KMgF3.•The discussion of energy transfer mechanism from Eu2+ to Ce3+ in the host.

Phase-pure Ce-/Eu-doped and co-doped KMgF3 phosphors are synthesized by hydrothermal techniques at 200 °C for 5 days. The crystal structure, particle size, morphologies and the energy band structure of the as-synthesized products are investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), environment scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The excitation and emission spectra of the rare earth ions doped KMgF3 are measured by the fluorescence spectrophotometer and the effects of Ce3+ ions molar fraction on the luminescence of Eu2+ ions are investigated. In the co-doped Eu2+ and Ce3+ system, the emission intensity of Ce3+ ion gradually increases with the increasing Ce3+ concentration, and the enhancement of Ce3+ fluorescence is due to an efficient energy transfer from Eu2+ to Ce3+ in the host. In addition, the mechanism of energy transfer has been discussed in detail. These results suggest that the phosphors of KMgF3: Ce3+, Eu2+ would become promising tunable laser materials.

Graphical abstractThe stronger emission broadband of the Ce3+ can be observed due to an efficient energy transfer from Eu2+ to Ce3+ in the co-doped system of KMgF3.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide