Microwave-assisted solid-state decomposition of La[Co(CN)6].5H2O precursor: A simple and fast route for the synthesis of single-phase perovskite-type LaCoO3 nanoparticles

Pure and single-phase nanoparticles of perovskite-type LaCoO3 were prepared via microwave-assisted solid-state decomposition of La[Co(CN)6].5H2O precursor in the presence of CuO powder as a strong microwave absorber within a very short reaction time of 10 min. Product was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and surface area measurement. The method is simple, fast and energy efficient and resulted in fine particles (10-30 nm) with high specific surface area and narrow size distribution. This hybrid microwave heating route is promising for the synthesis of other mixed oxide and related compounds.