Investigations of YF3: 1% Er nanocrystals

•New chemical synthesis was successfully applied to obtain the YF3: 1% Er nanocrystals.•SEM investigations showed that the particles of the compound are nanometric-size.•The sample has the proper stoichiometry, confirmed by XPS and magnetic results.•The energy gap is about 10 eV.

New chemical synthesis was successfully applied to obtain YF3: 1% Er nanocrystals. This method is a thermal decomposition of nitrates and acetates, preceded by solution displacement reaction. The sample was characterized by the following methods: X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility thermal dependence measurements. The obtained compound crystallizes in orthorhombic structure. Both, chemical composition determined by XPS and magnetic measurements prove to be in agreement with nominal formula. The SEM images show the nanometric size of the grains. The chemical shift of the XPS lines and wide energy gap indicate the covalent type of chemical bonds.