Evolution of high specific surface area lanthanum aerogels to magnetic lanthanum hydroxide nanostructures

Magnetic La(OH)3 nanostructures are prepared by the calcination of lanthanum aerogels, and the magnetism is investigated based on first-principles calculations. [Display omitted] •Lanthanum aerogels with high specific surface area are synthesized.•Hexagonal La(OH)3 crystal nanostructures are obtained and show ferromagnetism.•Magnetic property of La(OH)3 nanostructures is discussed based on density of states. Lanthanum aerogels with high specific surface area up to 288 m2·g−1 are synthesized by a modified sol-gel method combined with supercritical fluid ethanol drying. The lanthanum aerogels can be transformed into porous nanostructure composed of hexagonal La(OH)3 crystal nanostructures with the specific surface area of 35 m2·g−1 in large quantities after heat treatment at 600 °C in air. The room temperature magnetism of hexagonal La(OH)3 crystal nanostructures is investigated by the density of states based on first-principles calculations. This work brings a promising route that can quickly produce lanthanum-based porous nanostructures in large quantities.