Facile Synthesis and Photoluminescence of Europium Ion Doped LaF3 Nanodisks

LaF3:Eu3+ (5.0 mol‐% Eu3+) nanodisks with perfect crystallinity were successfully synthesized by a simple method. The synthesis was carried out in an aqueous solution at room temperature without the use of templates or organic additives. The mechanism of formation of the nanodisks was explored, and the fluoride source (KBF4) is believed to play a key role in controlling the morphology of the final product. Furthermore, the size of the disk can be simply moderated by varying the concentration of the initial reactants. The room‐temperature photoluminescence of LaF3:Eu3+ with different morphologies and sizes were also investigated, and the results indicate that the emission intensity of the product is strongly affected by their size, shape, and other factors.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)