Facile synthesis and characterization of lanthanum (III) oxychloride nanoparticles using a natural polymeric matrix

Plate-shape lanthanum oxychloride nanoparticles (LaOCl-NPs) were synthesized via a facile sol–gel method in gelatin media. The LaOCl-NPs were characterized by a number of techniques, including X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and high-magnification transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The LaOCl-NPs calcined at different temperatures exhibited a tetragonal structure. The influence of the calcination temperature on the morphology of LaOCl-NPs was also investigated. The TEM shows that the particles were grown in plate shape. The Auger result proved the purity of the final product. The results demonstrated that gelatin is an interesting material that can be used as a stabilizer in the sol–gel technique for preparing LaOCl-NPs.

► LaOCl-NPs were synthesized using gelatin as a stabilizer via a simple sol-gel method.
► Gelatin was expanded during the calcinations and terminates the growth of LaOCl.
► The structure of the prepared nanoparticles were investigated.
► The results showed that, gelatin is good stabilizer to prepare uniform LaOCl nanoparticles.