PL spectroscopy is a reliable tool for identification of phases formed in BaF2-REF3 system.
Ba1−xRExF2+x nanofluoride phases with fluorite-type structure are formed during thermolysis.
In contrast to previous reports formation of so-called ‘BaREF5’ nanocrystals was not observed.
The highest PL intensity is observed for Ba1−xRExF2+x compositions other than that with x = 0.5.