Effect of temperature on structural and optical properties of green synthesized lanthanum oxide nanoparticles

Lanthanum Oxide, La2O3, is an inorganic compound containing the rare earth element Lanthanum and Oxygen. Due to the high thermal stability, it is used in ceramic and optical applications. Here, we synthesized La2O3 nanoparticles by chemical co-precipitation method using Paradise tree (Simarouba glauca) and Malabar nut (Justicia adhatoda) leaf extracts as capping agents. La2O3 nanoparticle is prepared from its obtained carbonate by annealing the precursor at 450°C accordingly with Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). A small amount of thus obtained oxide nanoparticle is further annealed at 700°C to study the effect of temperature on its structural and optical properties. The structural properties of the samples are determined by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) Analysis, Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDAX) Analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Analysis. The optical study is done through Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy.