Synthesis of CeF3 nanostructures via ultrasonically assisted route and characterization of the same

Disk-like CeF3 nanocrystals were successfully synthesized via ultrasonically assisted route. The effects of ultrasonic irradiation time and temperature on the morphology and microstructure of CeF3 nanocrystals were investigated based on characterization of the nanocrystals by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence spectrophotometry (PL). Results indicate that the size of the CeF3 disks can be tuned by simply changing the ultrasonic irradiation time, and low temperature favors the formation of uniform CeF3 nanocrystal. The PL spectra showed that PL intensity of the CeF3 nanocrystals was related to the surface defect, crystalline extent, and size.