Synthesis, characterization, and luminescence properties of uniform Ln3+-doped YF3 nanospindles

A new example of a spindlelike Ln(3+)-doped YF3 luminescent nanomaterial has been prepared through a facile method by low-temperature hydrothermal treatment of YCl3, NaF, and EDTA at 140 degrees C for 12 h. High-quality, large-scale, and uniform nanospindles with a mean length of 560 nm and a mean width of 240 nm can be easily obtained. The size of the products can be controlled by varying reaction conditions. The effects of the molar ratio of EDTA to Y3+, reaction temperatures, and reaction time on the nanospindle growth have been investigated in detail. The possible growth mechanism of nanospindles has also been discussed. The results of photoluminescence spectroscopic measurements reveal that the as-prepared Ln(3+)-doped YF3 nanospindles show strong red and green emission. It is found that the morphology and size of the products have great influence on their emission intensity. Since the products exhibit excellent luminescence, they can be expected to become good candidates for research in optical and optoelectronic devices.