A physicist from Siberian Federal University (SFU) and Kirensky Institute of Physics Federal Research Center KSC SB RAS (IF) has described the structure and properties of a new substance obtained by his Chinese colleagues. These are layered crystals of rare earth metal hydroxides Ln2(OH)4SO4 (Ln=Eu-Lu, Y) that may be eco-friendly sources of phosphors (substances that transform different energies into light emission) for panels, screens and other electronic devices. The discovery was reported by Chemistry: A European Journal.