Synthesis and characterization of novel flower-like CeF3 nanostructures via a rapid microwave method

Abstract: Novel flower-like CeF3 nanostructures with a mean diameter of 190nm were successfully synthesized via a rapid and facile microwave irradiation route using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium as the complexing reagent. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photoluminescence (PL). XRD patterns showed that the CeF3 nanoflowers were hexagonal phase and had good crystallinity and purity. TEM and SEM images showed that the as-prepared CeF3 samples displayed 3D flower-like nanostructures and had uniform sizes and morphologies. The experimental results revealed that the as-prepared CeF3 nanoflowers might be assembled by nanodisks. The formation process of the CeF3 nanoflowers was preliminarily investigated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]