A facile method for the preparation of Eu2+-doped BaFCl is reported. The method is based on the co-precipitation of aqueous solutions of BaCl2 and NH4F to yield BaFCl. The doping by europium in the 2+ oxidation state is realized by the reduction of Eu3+ to Eu2+ employing granular zinc in the BaCl2 solution under nitrogen. Powder X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy have been used to confirm the BaFCl phase and photoluminescence, in the temperature range of 2.5-290 K, and room-temperature cathodoluminescence spectra have been measured to characterize the Eu2+ ions in the sample. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.