Synthesis of zirconium (hafnium) fluoride compounds and their X-ray luminescence properties

Twenty-five zirconium (hafnium) fluoride compounds have been synthesized at room temperature in the systems MO₂-H₂SO₄-M′_nA(HF)-H₂O (M = Zr (Hf); M′ = Na, K, Rb, Cs, NH₄; A = F, SO₄) and their X-ray luminescence spectra (luminescence wavelengths and relative intensities) have been measured. The X-ray luminescence of the compounds has been considered as a function of the composition (cations, anions, water content) and different structural factors (CNs, polyhedra, H-bonds). Ammonium compounds do not luminesce, and sodium fluorozirconates and heptafluorozirconates are weakly luminescing. Hexafluorozirconates M₂Zr(Hf)F₆ (M= K, Rb, Cs) and M₅Zr₄F₂₁ · 3H₂O (M = Rb, Cs), as well as oxofluorozirconate Rb₂Zr₃OF₁₂, are strongly luminescing compounds.