Surface Characterization and Photoluminescence Properties of Ce(3+),Eu Co-Doped SrF(2) Nanophosphor

SrF(2):Eu,Ce(3+) nanophosphors were successfully synthesized by the hydrothermal method during down-shifting investigations for solar cell applications. The phosphors were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning Auger nanoprobe, time of flight-secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. XRD showed that the crystallite size calculated with Scherrer’s equation was in the nanometre scale. XPS confirmed the formation of the matrix and the presence of the dopants in the SrF(2) host. The PL of the nanophosphor samples were studied using different excitation sources. The phenomenon of energy transfer from Ce(3+) to Eu(2+) has been demonstrated.