Low temperature chemical reaction synthesis of single-crystalline Eu(OH)3nanorods and their thermal conversion to Eu2O3nanorods.

We have developed a novel and simple method for chemical reaction synthesis of Eu(OH)3nanorods with a diameter of 20-30 nm and a length of about 300 nm at 90?°C using cyclohexylamine as the alkaline source instead of NaOH with subsequent thermal conversion to Eu2O3nanorods at 700?°C. The effect of different alkaline sources on the shape of Eu(OH)3nanostructures has been investigated. Moreover, the morphology, structure and optical properties of the Eu(OH)3and Eu2O3nanostructures prepared under different conditions have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), x-ray powder diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and photoluminescence (PL). The mechanisms of formation for the synthesis of the Eu(OH)3nanostructures with different morphologies are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]