A room temperature, templated synthesis of lanthanide trifluoride nanoparticles and their unusual self-assembly

Abstract

A new methodology has been developed for synthesizing lanthanide trifluoride (LnF₃) nanoparticles using a simple diffusion technique. The approach uses a lanthanide based hydrogel matrix to control the kinetics of the reaction, which also acts as a stabilizing platform, thus enabling the room temperature, in situ synthesis of finely sized (3–5 nm), monodisperse nanoparticles that were found to form in an ordered pattern on the gel fibers.