Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of LaPO4 for bio-imaging phosphors

Rare earth orthophosphates, RPO 4 (LaPO 4 and Nd: LaPO 4 ) have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions with an experimental temperature of 120 °C and duration of 16–30 h. Crystals were typically in the size range of 50–120 nm. The nanoparticles obtained were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy, SEM, and optical absorption spectroscopy. The typical morphology of the rare earth phosphate particles obtained was either rod-shaped or spherical depending upon the experimental conditions.