Ultrathin (Y0.98Re0.02)2(OH)5NO3·nH2O (Re= Pr, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm) nanosheets and well-dispersed oxide nanoparticles: Facile co-precipitation synthesis and multi-color luminescent properties

Abstract A rapid and mass synthesis of layered rare-earth hydroxide nanosheets with controlled two-dimensional size and thickness via coprecipitation at room temperature was developed. Using this technology, a series of (Y0.98Re0.02)2(OH)5NO3·nH2O (Re= Pr, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Tm) ultrathin nanosheets were successfully prepared via adjusting the concentration of rare earth nitrate solution and the corresponding well-dispersed oxide nanoparticles (~60 nm) with abundant photoluminescence emissions including blue, green, yellow, orange and red were obtained via direct calcination at 1000 °C.