Solid-state metathesis of KMgF3:Eu2+ phosphor

Solid-state metathesis is one of the important, but least explored, kind of SHS. Recently, solid state metathesis of some double fluorides of potassium with divalent metal has been demonstrated. This method is quite attractive as it is fast and simple. The reaction gets completed within ten minutes. A simple domestic microwave oven has been used to carry out the metathesis. Though the formation of double fluorides by metathesis is demonstrated, this itself is not sufficient for obtaining a luminescent material. It is equally, if not more, important to incorporate the activator ion during the synthesis. It will be highly convenient if the fluoride phosphors (and not simply the hosts) can be prepared by the solid state metathesis. We successfully prepared KMgF3:Eu2+ phosphor by this method. The results are presented and discussed in this paper.