Enhancement of blue emission in Ce3+, Eu2+ activated BaSiF6 downconversion phosphor by energy transfer mechanism: A photochromic phosphor

Rare earth activated fluoride phosphors have attention in recent years in the field of solid state lighting. In the present study, RE (RE = Ce3+,Eu2+) doped/co-doped BaSiF6 phosphor has been synthesized by low temperature solution combustion method at 500 ± 20 °C using urea as a fuel. Photoluminescence (PL) properties of this sample were investigated by RF-5301 PC Spectrofluorophotometer. The structural, vibrational features and morphology of all the samples were analyzed by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT- IR) which showed that the samples were crystallized in a well known structure. Photoluminescence characterization of Eu2+ doped phosphor shows a blue emission at λmax ~460 nm under the excitation of 287 nm. The photoluminescence properties of the as‐prepared phosphors were investigated and the Ce3+ ions in these hosts were found to give little broadband emission in the UV range at 344 nm on exciting it at 300 nm. A broad PL excitation peak is obtained on co-doping Ce3+ with Eu2+ in the range of 300–425 nm highest intensity at 362 nm gives broad blue emission at 440 nm. This luminescent powder are expected to find out potential applications in the blue emitting phosphor converted white light emitting diodes and optical display systems.