Synthesis and characterization of Dy(OH)3 and Dy2O3 nanorods and nanosheets

We synthesized Dy(III) complexes with morphologies of nanorods and nanosheets by a hydrothermal method. Cubic phase Dy2O3 nanorods and nanosheets were obtained by high temperature post-thermal annealing of the corresponding complexes. The as-synthesized nanorods consisted of hexagonal phase Dy(OH)3 grown along the [0 0 1] direction. Their physicochemical properties were examined by scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction crystallography, UV-visible-NIR absorption, differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.