Synthesis and up-conversion white light emission of RE3+-doped lutetium oxide nanocubes as a single compound

► Uniform and dispersive cubic precursor can be synthesized by sample hydrothermal process. ► Hydrothermal precursor could transform to Lu2O3:RE3+ with its original cubic morphology. ► Nearly equal intensities of blue, green, and red emissions under single 980 nm laser. ► Lu2O3:RE3+ show bright white light emission, clearly visible to the naked eyes. ► Chromaticity coordinate is very close to the standard equal energy white light illuminate.