La(OH)3 and La2O3 nanospindles prepared by template-free direct electrodeposition followed by heat-treatment

• La(OH)3 nanospindles were prepared by base electrogeneration from nitrate bath.
• Heat-treatment of hydroxide nanospindles resulted the larger oxide nanospindles.
• Mechanism of the deposit formation during the electrodeposition was proposed.
• Thermal behavior of the deposit during the heat treatment was explained in detail.

Base electrogeneration was conducted on the steel cathode from 0.005 M La(NO3)3 bath at the conditions of i=2 mA cm−2, T=60 °C and t=25 min for deposition of lanthanum hydroxide. The prepared hydroxide was then heat-treated at 600 °C for 3 h in dry air atmosphere. The physicochemical changes of the hydroxide deposit on heating were investigated by DSC-TG analysis. The structural characterizations by XRD, FT-IR and morphological observations via SEM showed that the well-crystallized and spindle-like nanostructures of La(OH)3 and La2O3 have been prepared. This work showed that nanospindles of La(OH)3 and La2O3 are easily achievable by cathodic deposition followed by heat-treatment.