Synthesis and characterization of yttrium hydroxide and oxide microtubes

Hexagonal microtubes with hexagonal phase Y(OH)3 were successfully synthesized by a facile solvothermal method at 160℃ for 12 h in the absence of surfactants or templates via a crystal transformation route. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results demonstrate that the pre-pared hexagonal microtubes are with a wall thickness of 50-100 nm, an outer diameter of 1 μm, and lengths going up tens of micrometers. Cubic phase Y2O3 microtubes were obtained after thermal treatment of the Y(OH)3 microtubes at 700℃ for 4 h. Eu3+-doped Y2O3 micro-tubes with strong red emission at 610 nm were also prepared and their photoluminescence (PL) properties were studied. The possible mecha-nism for the formation of the microtubes was briefly discussed.