Rare　earth　nanomaterials　with　nanometer　to　submicronmeter　crystalline　sizes　are　an　important　class　of　materials　displaying　interesting　physical　and　chemical　properties　especially　in　luminescence　and　catalysis　fields.　In　the　last　decade,　the　synthetic　chemistry　and　exploring　of　novel　properties　on　rare　earth　nanomaterials　have　been　developed　rapidly.　This　review　on　the　topic　of　controlled　synthesis　and　properties　of　rare　earth　nanomaterials　should　be　useful　with　these　literatures　mostly　up　to　2009.　The　discussion　focuses　on　the　controlled　synthesis　of　nanomaterials　of　inorganic　rare　earth　compounds　such　as　rare　earth　oxides,　oxysalts,　halogenides,　chalcogenides,　and　therefore　organized　according　to　the　different　compounds　discussed　here.　The　successfully　developed　solution-based　chemical　methods,　such　as　traditional　sol-Cgel　methods,　combustion/flaming/pyrolysis　methods　hydrothermal/solvothermal　methods,　and　those　with　modifications　assisted　with　microwave　radiation　and　sonochemical　methods,　the　high　boiling　solvents-based　heat　treatment　methods,　and　much　more　have　been　applied　to　the　controlled　synthesis　of　rare　earth　compound　nanomaterials.　Based　on　the　well-developed　controlling　of　pure　phase,　uniform　size　and　shape,　desired　doping　and　composite　structure,　the　rare　earth　nanocrystals　show　much　more　properties　and　promising　application,　such　as　in　the　medical　fields,　the　energy　conversion,　pollution　controlling,　and　various　displays,　which　are　also　mentioned.　With　the　newly　developed　techniques　in　top-down　and　bottom-up　strategies　for　nanomaterials,　it　is　reasonable　to　anticipate　more　rational　and　sophisticated　rare　earth　nanostructures　as　well　as　their　advanced　applications　in　the　future.　©　2011　Elsevier　B.V.