A two-step synthetic route using RE(OH)CO3 colloid spheres as the sacrificial template was designed to prepare monodisperse, pure bastnasite (RECO3F: RE = Ce, La, Pr, Nd) with a hole structure for the first time. A variety of morphologies, including jujube core-like, stacked nanoblocks, and stacked nanosheets were obtained through changing the ratio of reactants. The phase, structure, shapes, and photoluminescence properties of samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The CeCO3F:Ln3+ (Ln = Tb, Eu, Dy) phosphors give green, yellow and blue emission, respectively, due to the f–f transitions of Ln3+ ions. Furthermore, the energy transfer from Ce3+ to Dy3+ and Tb3+ was described in detail.
