Nonhydrolytic colloidal synthesis of ligand-capped single-crystalline NdOCl nanocubes and their magnetic properties

Abstract In the present study, monodisperse NdOCl nanocubes with single-crystalline structure were fabricated through a novel nonhydrolytic colloidal route, in which NdCl 3 ⋅6H 2 O was only used as the neodymium source and oleylamine was the coordinating ligand as well as the surfactant. TEM image indicates that the nanostructures show cubic shape with an edge length of about 27 nm. XRD pattern and SAED analysis of numerous nanocubes indicate that the NdOCl nanocubes have a pure tetragonal PbFCl matlockite phase. HRTEM image and FFT pattern of individual NdOCl nanocubes reveal that each cube is single crystalline. Magnetization analysis suggests that the NdOCl nanocubes show ferromagnetic characteristic at room temperature. These results are significant for the investigations of rare earth-based nanocrystals. Besides, this novel nonhydrolytic colloidal route is believed to be a potential general strategy for the synthesis of monodispersed rare earth oxychlorides nanocrystals.