a b s t r a c t Rare earth fluorides (REF 3 , RE ¼Y, La, Gd or Yb) doped with 5% of Eu 3 þ ions were synthesized via the hydrothermal method and their physicochemical properties were compared. The synthesis was carried out in an aqueous medium at elevated pressure and temperature. The reaction was performed in situ, with use of NaBF 4 as a source of fluoride ions. Structural and morphological properties of obtained nanophosphors were characterized with the use of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman spectroscopy. Synthesized products were nanocrystalline with hexagonal or orthorhombic crystal structures. They showed different morphology, from nanoplates to nanorings, depending on the used REF 3 fluoride as the host for the Eu 3 þ ions. The elemental composition was confirmed by the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) results. Spectroscopic properties were investigated by measuring the excitation and emission spectra. Also luminescence lifetimes were determined. The synthesized materials showed bright red luminescence, due to the presence of Eu 3 þ ions in their structure.