A simple technique for preparation of powder binary fluorides activated with divalent Sm ions is described. The Sm impurity is introduced as Sm trifluoride SmF3 and H acts as the reducing agent to transform Sm3+ into Sm2+. Using this method, Sm was stabilized in the divalent state in some fluorides: KMgF3, LiBaF3, BaBeF4, SrMgF4 and BaMgF4. Also, BaBeF4, SrMgF4 and BaMgF4 have never been activated with Sm2+ ions. Also under the same synthetic conditions Sm can not be stabilized in the divalent state in some fluorides: KCaF3, CaBeF4 and CaMgF4, but the characteristic luminescence of Sm3+ appears in these matrixes. The emission and excitation spectra of Sm (Sm2+ and Sm3+) in these binary fluorides are presented and briefly discussed. The relation between the oxidation state of Sm and the composition, the structure of matrixes is also analyzed.

Key words: SYNTHESIS, DOPE, LASER MATERIAL, FLUOROSPECTROPHOTOMETRY, SAMARIUM ION, COMPLEX FLUORIDES