Preparation of nanosized LaCoxMn1−xO3 perovskite oxide using amorphous heteronuclear complex as a precursor

Nanosized LaCoxMn1−xO3 (x=0.3 and 0.4) oxide with perovskite structure was successfully synthesized at fairly low temperature in air by the decomposition of the amorphous precursor LaCoxMn1−x(DTPA)·6H2O (x=0.3 and 0.4). The precursor could completely decompose into oxide at temperature below 500°C according to the DTA and TGA results. XPS and XRD demonstrated that the decomposed species was composed of LaCoxMn1−xO3 oxide and a perovskite structure was formed after being calcined at 500°C for 2 h. TEM showed that LaCoxMn1−xO3 oxide existed as nanoparticles and the dispersion was homogeneous when the precursor was calcined at low temperature. The effect of the calcination temperature on the particle size and the specific surface area was much more serious than that of the calcination time. This method is effective and can be easily quantitatively controlled to synthesize nanosized perovskite oxides.