Mesoporous rare earth fluoride nanocrystals and their photoluminescence properties

YF(3) and YF(3):Eu(3+) mesoporous hexagonal nanocrystals were successfully synthesized via a simple hydrothermal process based on the in situ assembly of the as-synthesized YF(3) and YF(3):Eu(3+) nanoparticles. The well defined mesoporous nanostructures are formed by phenanthroline assisted assembly of ～20 nm nanoparticles, and 2-4 nm pores are contained as indicated by N(2) adsorption-desorption studies. The obtained YF(3):Eu(3+) mesoporous hexagonal nanoplates show a significant photoluminescence intensity enhancement compared with other shaped YF(3):Eu(3+) nanocrystals.