Synthetic study of nanocrystalline complex oxides LaFe1–yCoyO3

Abstract

A precursor to LaFe_1–yCo_yO₃ has been prepared using the polyethylene glycol-gel method. After calcination of the precursor at 450–550 °C for 1–2 h, nanocrystalline complex oxides LaFe_1–yCo_yO₃(y= 0.5, 0.6, 0.8) with the perovskite structure and grain diameter < ca. 10 nm were obtained; the materials were single phase and of good crystallinity. The citric acid and self-propagating synthesis methods also gave nanocrystalline materials. The results indicate that the distribution of the various components in the precursor has an important effect on the subsequent solid-state reaction.