Nano-crystalline Nd3+-doped LuPO4 optical materials obtained by ionic liquid assisted synthesis route

•Pure phase Nd3+-LuPO4 nanoscale optical materials were fabricated using two different protocols of synthesis: hydrothermal and microwave.•The novelty of the synthesis concerned using [choline]+[H2PO4]− ionic liquid as morphology controlling agent.•The structural and spectroscopic properties of the obtained materials differing in morphology and grain size were investigated and the possible application of this material as an optical thermometer was studied.•Due to the close relation between the spectroscopic properties and the local structure and the bonding at the ion site, the Nd3+ ion was used as a probe for local ordering.