Converted Growth Mechanism and Photoluminescence of Tb³⁺ Doped YBO₃ Micropancakes and NaYF₄ Nanorods Synthesized from the Identical Precursor

YBO₃ micropancakes and NaYF₄ nanorods were synthesized through a two-step hydrothermal chemical conversion route. The uniform sheetlike yttrium precursor was first hydrothermally prepared. Well-crystallized YBO₃ and NaYF₄ were then obtained at the expense of the precursor. The two steps were both carried out in aqueous conditions without any template, surfactant, or catalyst. The formation mechanisms of our samples are both governed by the dissolution-recrystallization. During the recrystallization, oriented attachment attributes most to the final morphology of our products. We have investigated the relation between their growth habits and inherent crystal structures in detail for the first time and the results afford some guidance for the green synthesis of other inorganic nano-/micro-materials with specific morphology. We have also investigated the luminescence properties of Tb³⁺ doped YBO₃ and NaYF₄, which preserved the same morphology as the undoped samples.