Designed self-assembly of semiconductor YF3 nanospindles assisted by the ´molecular spanner´ selenite ions

A self-assembling chemical route assisted by complexing agent has been designed to control the synthesis of semiconductor YF3 nanospindles, in which it has been demonstrated that complex geometrical objects of micro- and nanoscales can be prepared by a simple and template-free solution route. The X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy examinations show that the authors´ strategy is reasonable and successful. Different structured YF3 nanospindles composed of uniform nanoparticles, nanoplates and nanowires with a mean thick size of 30 nm have been prepared through controlling reaction time and temperatures. Two new emission peaks at 415 and 433 nm owing to SeO4² ions were observed as excited by 370 nm.