Abstract: To address the high repetition rates and pileup effects in the development of future ultrafast imagers, stringent requirements have been proposed for scintillators. Novel ultrafast scintillators featuring short X-ray attenuation lengths and low levels of slow components are required. BaF₂ scintillation ceramics combine core advantages, such as fast response characteristics, high light yield within the first nanosecond, and short X-ray attenuation length, demonstrating significant potential for ultrafast imaging applications. In this study, BaF₂ powder was synthesized via a chemical co-precipitation method using barium nitrate (Ba(NO₃)₂) and potassium fluoride dihydrate (KF·2H₂O) as raw materials₂, and BaF₂ scintillation ceramics were prepared using hot-pressing technology. The effects of hot-pressing temperature (550-650 ℃) on the microstructure, optical transmittance, and X-ray excited luminescence (XEL) intensity of BaF₂ scintillation ceramics were investigated. The results indicate that as the hot-pressing temperature increases, the pore density in the ceramics initially decreases and then increases. Similarly, the in-line transmittance and XEL intensity of the BaF₂ ceramics first increase and then decrease with rising hot-pressing temperature. BaF₂ scintillation ceramics prepared by hot-pressing (1 mm thickness) at 600 ℃ for 2 h under 50 MPa exhibited an in-line transmittance of 48.2% at 800 nm, the highest fast luminescence XEL intensity, and significant suppression of the slow component. Compared with BaF₂ single crystals, the slow decay component in the ceramic samples was effectively suppressed; the fast decay component accounted for 10.6% (compared to 6.2% in single crystals), and the light yield was 4021 ph/MeV. Furthermore, the mechanism underlying the suppression of the slow decay component in the ceramics was investigated. The study confirmed the presence of fast self-trapped exciton quenching centers within the BaF₂ scintillation ceramics, evidenced by a lower intensity of the 109 K thermoluminescence peak compared to that of the single crystal sample. This phenomenon leads to a reduced proportion of the slow decay component in the ceramics. This work elucidates how hot-pressing temperature affects the overall performance of the ceramics and, through comparison with single crystals, reveals the mechanism suppressing the slow luminescence of BaF₂ ceramics.