Preparation of nanosized LaCoO3 perovskite oxide using amorphous heteronuclear complex as a precursor at low temperature

Nanosized LaCoO3 cobaltite oxide powder with perovskite structure was successfully synthesized at a relatively low calcination temperature using an amorphous heteronuclear complex, LaCo(DTPA). 6H(2)O, as a precursor. The precursor decomposed completely into cobaltite oxide above 400 degrees C according to the DTA and TGA results. XPS revealed that the decomposed species was composed of LaCoO3 cobaltite oxide after the precursor was calcined at 500 degrees C for 2 hours. XRD demonstrated that nanosized LaCoO3 crystalline powder with perovskite structure was formed after the calcination temperature increased to 600 degrees C. The grain size and the crystal size of LaCoO3 increased with the calcination temperature from 500 degrees C to 800 degrees C, and the heat-treatment time has a less obvious effect on the grain size and the crystal size. It is a useful way to synthesize nanosized perovskite oxides using an amorphous complex as a precursor. This method can be easily quantitatively controlled. (C) 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers.