Synthesis of nanocrystalline REBO3 (RE=Y, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Ho) and YBO3:Eu using a borohydride-based solution precursor route

A solution precursor route has been used to synthesize a series of nanocrystalline rare-earth borates. Amorphous precursor powders are precipitated during an aqueous reaction between RE3+ and NaBH4, and the isolated powders can be annealed in air at 700 °C to form YBO3, NdBO3, SmBO3, EuBO3, GdBO3, and HoBO3. YBO3:Eu formed using this strategy shows red-orange emission properties that are similar to high-quality nanocrystals prepared by other methods. The materials have been characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, powder XRD, SEM, DSC, UV–Vis fluorimetry, and TEM with EDS and element mapping.