A simple mixed-solvothermal route for LaPO4 nanorods: synthesis, characterization, affecting factors and PL properties of LaPO4:Ce3+

In this paper, LaPO(4) nanorods have been successfully synthesized via a simple water-ethyleneglycol (H(2)O-EG) mixed-solvothermal route, employing lanthanum nitrate (La(NO(3))(3)·xH(2)O) as a La(3+) ion source and monobasic sodium phosphate (NaH(2)PO(4)·2H(2)O) as a PO(4)(3-) ion source. The as-obtained products were characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), (high resolution) transmission electron microscopy (HR/TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Some factors influencing the formation of LaPO(4) nanorods, including the reaction temperature, the volume ratio of water/EG and the original amount of H(2)PO(4)(-) ions, were investigated. Experiments showed that the volume ratio of water/EG and the original amount of H(2)PO(4)(-) ions could markedly affect the morphology of the final product.