Synthesis of mesoporous EU₂O₃ microspindles

Mesoporous Eu₂O₃ microspindles have been prepared by a facile solution process followed by subsequent heat treatment. By adding urea stepwise and varying the reaction time, the dimension of the Eu ₂O₃ microspindles can be easily tuned from 250 × 100 nm to 900 × 400 nm. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, small-angle X-ray scattering, (high-resolution) transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The Eu₂O₃ samples exhibit a relatively broad pore-size distribution, and the wall of the pore is constructed by well-crystalline Eu₂O₃ nanocrystals with diameters of about 15 nm. A possible formation mechanism of the mesoporous microspindles was also discussed.