Uniform YF3 nanorods: Synthesis, luminescent properties and cytotoxicity study

Uniform YF3 nanorods composed of nanoparticles were successfully prepared via a facile solvothermal method with ethanol as solvent and tetrabutyl ammonium fluoride (TBAF) as fluorine source. The products were characterized with powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The nanorods were with diameters of ca. 60 nm and lengths ranging from 200 to 350 nm. Eu3+ and Tb3+ doped YF3 nanorods were also prepared and their photoluminescence properties were investigated. Cytotoxicity study revealed that these YF3 based nanorods were biocompatible.