A rapid hydrothermal synthesis of rare earth oxide activated y (OH) ₃ and Y₂O₃ nanotubes

One-dimensional single crystalline rare earth ion (Tm³⁺, Tb ⁺³, and Eu³⁺) doped Y (OH)₃ nanotubes with inner diameters of 20-110nm, outer diameters of 50-140nm, and 1-5νm in length were prepared for the first time by a rapid hydrothermal method within a short reaction period (5min) at subcritical temperature (320 °C) and high pressure (about40MPa). A temperature dependent nanostructure evolution study was performed under rapid hydrothermal conditions and the effects of other processing parameters such as concentration of KOH and reaction time were found to be key parameters for the formation of highly anisotropic crystal structures of rare earth hydroxide nanotubes. Rare earth ion (Tm³⁺, Tb ⁺³, and Eu³⁺) doped Y₂O₃ nanotubes can be obtained after calcinations above 450 °C. The luminescent property of rare earth doped Y₂O₃ nanotubes was also explored and compared with reference samples prepared via a conventional co-precipitation method.