Preparation and Properties of Ce3+: BaF2 Transparent Ceramics by Vacuum Sintering

Ce0.001Ba0.999F2.001 powders were prepared by a chemical coprecipitation method using Ba(NO3)(2), KF.2H(2)O and Ce(NO3)(3).6H(2)O as raw materials. Ce0.001Ba0.999F2.001 transparent ceramics were prepared by vacuum sintering. The results show that the Ce0.001Ba0.999F2.001 powders were blocky, and both powdered and sintered transparent ceramics were composed of BaF2 phases without the secondary phase. The maximum light transmittance of the Ce0.001Ba0.999F2.001 transparent ceramics reached 55%. The fracture morphology shows a cleavage fracture with a few micropores. The fluorescence spectra show that the Ce0.001Ba0.999F2.001 powders displayed emissions at 410 nm, 480 nm and 620 nm under 275 nm excitation. The Ce0.1Ba0.9F2.1 transparent ceramics displayed emissions at 450 nm and 620 nm under 294 nm excitation.