Controlled synthesis of NdF3 and NaNdF4 micro- or nanocrystals by one-pot microwave-assisted hydrothermal reaction

•NdF3 nanoflakes and NaNdF4 hexagonal nanorods.•One-pot microwave-assisted hydrothermal route.•Strong fluorescence at 850–900, ∼1060, and ∼1330 nm.•The reaction time and reaction temperature affected the sizes and crystallization of products.

NdF3 nanoflakes and hexagonal NaNdF4 nanorods were successfully prepared in a facile manner by the one-pot microwave-assisted hydrothermal reaction of Nd(NO3)3·6H2O and NaF within 3 h at pH = 1 and pH = 3–10, respectively. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (C10H14N2O8Na2·2H2O, EDTA–2Na) was used as the morphology-controlling agent. The size, morphology, and crystallinity of the resulting nanocrystals can be easily tuned by adjusting the reaction temperature and time. The as-prepared NdF3 nanoflakes and NaNdF4 hexagonal prisms were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. All nanocrystals exhibited a typical hexagonal phase, and their crystallization improved with increasing reaction temperature and reaction time. A strong emission spectrum was observed at approximately 850–900, 1060, and 1330 nm for both NdF3 nanoflakes and NaNdF4 nanorods under a laser excitation of 354 nm, indicating that Nd3+ exhibits high luminescence in these two nanocrystals.

Graphical abstractAn effective and controllable method was demonstrated to synthesize NdF3 nanoflakes and NaNdF4 hexagonal nanorods with strong fluorescence at 850–900, ∼1060, and ∼1330 nm by a one-pot microwave-assisted hydrothermal route.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide