Solvothermal Synthesis and Luminescence Properties of BaCeF₅, and BaCeF₅: Tb³⁺, Sm³⁺ Nanocrystals: An Approach for White Light Emission

Novel monodisperse BaCeF₅ and BaCeF₅: Tb³⁺, Sm³⁺ nanocrystals have been successfully synthesized by a simple one-step solvothermal synthesis. Uniformly distributed nanocrystals with an octahedral morphology and particle size of 75–80 nm were observed. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), photoluminescence (PL), and decay studies were employed to characterize the samples. Under ultraviolet irradiation, the BaCeF₅: Tb³⁺, Sm³⁺ samples exhibit the typical green emission band of the Tb³⁺ ions, as well as an orange-red and red emission bands of the Sm³⁺ ions in the presence of Ce³⁺ ions. The highly intense orange-red and red emission bands of the Sm³⁺ ions were attributed to the effective energy transfer from the Tb³⁺ to Sm³⁺ ions, which has been justified through the luminescence spectra and the fluorescence decay dynamics. The luminescence colors of BaCeF₅: Tb³⁺, Sm³⁺ nanophosphors can be easily tuned by changing the concentration of Sm³⁺ ions. These results suggest that BaCeF₅: Tb³⁺, Sm³⁺ nanocrystals can be explored for three-dimensional displays, back lighting, white light sources, and so on