Structural, morphological and optical properties of solvothermally synthesized Pr(OH)3 nanoparticles and calcined Pr6O11 nanorods

Abstract The structural, morphological and optical properties of solvothermally synthesized Pr(OH) 3 nanoparticles and calcined Pr 6 O 11 nanorods have been studied. Pr 6 O 11 nanorods were grown by subsequent thermal decomposition of the synthesized Pr(OH) 3 nanoparticles at 700 °C for 2 h. Structural analysis showed that the synthesized Pr(OH) 3 nanoparticles possess hexagonal phase and calcined Pr 6 O 11 nanorods have cubic fluorite phase. HRSEM images revealed that the Pr 6 O 11 sample contains well-defined rod-like morphology. The UV–vis absorbance study of Pr 6 O 11 nanorods showed shape-dependent absorption edge toward higher wavelength as compared to Pr(OH) 3 nanoparticles. The PL spectrum of Pr 6 O 11 nanorods reveals the enhanced near-band-edge emission in the blue region, with significant defect level green emission. The mechanism for the formation of Pr 6 O 11 nanorods from Pr(OH) 3 nanoparticles has been proposed.