The role of citrate precursors on the morphology of lanthanide oxides obtained by thermal decomposition

Two series of lanthanide oxides with different morphologies were synthesized through calcinations of two types of citrate polymeric precursors. These oxides were characterized by XRD patterns, SEM electronic microscopy, and N 2 adsorption isotherms. SEM microscopy analysis showed that the calcination of crystalline fibrous precursors [Ln 2 (LH) 3 ·2H 2 O] (L = citrate) originated fibrous shaped particles. On the other hand, the calcination of irregular shaped particles of precursors [LnL· x H 2 O] originated irregular shaped particles of oxide, pointing out a morphological template effect of precursors on the formation of the respective oxides.