SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF La1-xCaxAlO3

La1-xCaxAlO3 (x = 0-0.6) perovskite-type oxides were prepared by coprecipitation using metal nitrate salts as cation precursors and NaOH solution as the precipitating agent. DTA and TGA results indicated that decomposition of the precursor to the oxide begins at about 800 C. Powder XRD patterns confirmed the formation of the perovskite phase. Both undoped and doped lanthanum aluminates showed two IR active vibrational modes at 450 and 670 cm-1, which are assigned to AlO6 octahedra of the oxide matrix. The microstructure and morphology of the compounds showed that the particles are nearly spherical in shape and are agglomerated. Electrochemical measurements indicated that the catalytic activity is strongly influenced by lanthanum doping. The highest electrode performance was achieved with a large calcium content.