LaCrO3 powder from lanthanum trisoxalatochromate(III) (LTCR) precursor

Abstract

Lanthanum chromite LaCrO3, an important catalyst and interconnect material used in solid oxide fuel cell was prepared from lanthanumtrisoxalatochromate(III) hydrate [LaCr(C2O4)3]·9H2O (LTCR) employing microwave heating technique. The compound LTCR heated in microwave heating system gave pure LaCrO3 at 500°C within one hour. However LTCR heated in silicon carbide furnace yielded LaCrO3 at 900°C. BET surface area of LaCrO3 prepared by microwave and conventional heating techniques were found to be 2.8 and 1.2 m2 g−1, respectively. Thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction techniques were used to optimize the conditions for the microwave processing of the precursor.