Rare earth lanthanum based aerogels with reduced chlorine ions by a modified epoxide gelation method

The rare earth lanthanum aerogel monolith with low chlorine ions were synthesized by a modified epoxide gelation method. The actual wt% of Cl could be reduced to as low as 0.371 wt%. [Display omitted] •Rare earth lanthanum based (La-) aerogels were prepared by a modified epoxide gelation method.•The La-aerogels monoliths have low chlorine (0.371 wt%) and high specific surface area (74 m2/g).•The La-aerogels were well crystallized and the microstructures consisted of La(OH)3 rods and La2O2CO3 lamellae. Rare earth lanthanum based aerogels with reduced chlorine ions were produced by a modified sol–gel process. In the process, the La3+ precursor was designed to coordinate acetylacetone to form a La-complex. Ethanediamine was added in sol solution to form hydrochloride precipitates that were filtered in the following step. After supercritical drying, La-aerogel monoliths with lamella and rod microstructure were achieved. The Ion Chromatography showed that the chlorine within the aerogel synthesized by an optimized recipe reduced to as low as 0.371 wt%, in compared to the well-established method (3.909 wt%). The sol–gel mechanism was explored in detail.