Ionic liquid-based hydrothermal synthesis of Lu2O3 and Lu2O3:Eu3+ microcrysals

• Lu2O3 and Lu2O3:Eu3+ were prepared through a facile and green IL-based method.
• Novel 3D micro-rodbundles and 1D microrods of Lu2O3 and Lu2O3:Eu3+ were controllably obtained.
• The microcrystals are uniform, monodisperse, well-shaped and phase-pure.
• Proposed formation mechanisms were investigated through periodic SEM observation of the morphology of the materials.
• IL TBAH served as solvents, reactants, as well as templates–all in one media.

Uniform and well-defined Lu2O3 and Lu2O3:Eu3+ microarchitectures have been successfully synthesized via a green and facile ionic liquid-based hydrothermal method followed by a subsequent calcination process. Novel 3D micro-rodbundles and 1D microrods of Lu2O3 and Lu2O3:Eu3+ were controllably obtained through this method. X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectra were used to characterize the micromaterials. The proposed formation mechanisms have been investigated on the basis of a series of SEM studies of the products obtained at different hydrothermal durations. The results indicated that hydrothermal temperature and the ionic liquid-tetrabutylammonium hydroxide were two key factors for the formation as well as the morphology control of the Lu2O3 and Lu2O3:Eu3+ microarchitectures.

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