PVP-mediated synthesis of MPO4 (M = Y, Er) hollow mesocrystal cubes via a ripening process†
Abstract
YPO4 and ErPO4 hollow mesocrystal cubes were successfully synthesized using PVP as additive to modify the crystallization of YPO4 and ErPO4. The time-dependent TEM images revealed that the as-formed nanocubes covered in PVP self-assembled into big mesocrystal cubes via oriented attachment firstly, followed by the ripening process to form a yolk–shell mesocrystal structure and finally hollow mesocrystal cubes. Usually, the ripening process promotes the transformation from the mesocrystal to the single crystal, but in our case, the mesocrystal remains, which is confirmed by