Synthesis of REF3 (RE=Nd, Tb) nanoparticles via a solvent extraction route

NdF{sub 3} and TbF{sub 3} nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via a solvent extraction route using Cynex923 (R{sub 3}P=O). X-ray diffraction (XRD) study showed that pure hexagonal phase NdF{sub 3} and pure orthorhombic phase TbF{sub 3} could be obtained under the current synthetic conditions. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations indicated that as-obtained NdF{sub 3} nanoplates have a diameter of 50-80 nm and thickness of 10-20 nm and TbF{sub 3} products have sphere morphologies with diameter from 70 to 170 nm. The driving force for the growth of NdF{sub 3} nanoplates could be attributed to the hexagonal crystal structure. The luminescence properties of NdF{sub 3} and TbF{sub 3} nanoparticles were investigated, which indicated that NdF{sub 3} nanoparticles showed typical emission at 888, 1064, and 1328 nm and TbF{sub 3} nanoparticles showed characteristic emission of Tb{sup 3+} (f-f).