Rapid Microwave Synthesis and Fluorescence of LaF3 and LaF3:Re (Re=Ce3+, Eu3+, Tb3+) Nanocrystals

LaF₃ and LaF₃: Re (Re= Ce³⁺, Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺) nanocrystals have been successfully synthesized by a facile and rapid microwave heating method. The structure, morphology and fluorescent properties of the as-prepared products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). XRD patterns showed that the undoped and doped LaF₃ nanocrystals had hexagonal structure with good crystallinity and high purity. TEM and HRTEM images showed that the LaF₃ nanocrystals have uniform sizes with mean diameter about 20 nm and are characteristic of inner cavities. The luminescence spectra of the LaF₃: Re (Re= Ce³⁺, Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺) nanocrystals indicated that different rare-earth ions have been successfully doped in LaF3 matrix via the microwave heating method.