Controlled synthesis of ultrathin lamellar Eu2O3 nanocrystals: self-assembly of 1D nanowires to 2D nanosheets

By using 1,5-pentanediol as a capping and structure directing agent, ultrathin Eu2O3 nanosheets (<1 nm) have been synthesized and assembled into a layered structure. The lateral dimensions of the nanosheets can be tuned by simply controlling the reaction time. These layered structures exhibit a strong quantum size effect due to the extremely small thickness of the assembled nanosheets.