Mechanochemical synthesis of nanocrystalline BaFCl:Sm3+ storage phosphor by ball milling

The mechanochemical preparation of nanocrystalline BaFCl:Sm3+ by ball milling BaCl2 or BaCl2·2H2O, BaF2 and SmF3 is reported. Photoluminescence shows predominantly Sm3+ 4GJ–6HJ luminescence whereas cathodoluminescence comprises of both the Sm3+ 4GJ–6HJ and Sm2+ 5DJ–7FJ emissions. In comparison with the co-precipitated phosphor, the storage efficiency, as measured by the conversion of Sm3+ to Sm2+ upon X-irradiation, is 15 and 6 times lower for the samples prepared by using BaCl2 or BaCl2·2H2O, respectively. Importantly, the present result points to the possibility of preparing the entire class of photoluminescent and photostimulable storage phosphors BaFX:RE2+/3+ (X = Cl, Br, I; RE = rare earth element) by ball milling.