Stearic Acid Assisted Synthesis of LaAlO3 Nanopowder by Sol–Gel Self Propagation Process

Abstract

Lanthanum Aluminate (LaAlO3) nanoparticles have been synthesized at low temperature using the sol–gel method, in combination with the self-propagating combustion technique, by adding a little stearic acid as dispersant during citric acid addition. Calcinated nano-LaAlO3 has been characterized using DTA-TGA, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction studies confirm the formation of LaAlO3 at low temperature by adding stearic acid. FTIR analysis shows the characteristic bands at 660 and 449 cm−1 were those for LaAlO3. TEM micrographs showed an average particle size of ∼25 nm without stearic acid, which were in contrast to the highly agglomerated particle with stearic acid. The influence of the stearic acid on the morphology of nano-LaAlO3 was also discussed.