Solvothermal synthesis and characterization of LaPO4 with hierarchical nanostructure in mixed solvents of ethanol and water

•LaPO4 with hierarchical nanostructure.•The solvothermal method was applied to the synthesis of LaPO4.•The mixed solvents of ethanol and water had an effect on the shape of LaPO4.

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of the mixed solvents of ethanol and water on the synthesis of LaPO4. Herein, a solvothermal method was used for the synthesis of LaPO4 with hierarchical nanostructure in the mixed solvents of ethanol and water. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The mixed solvents of ethanol and water played an important role in the shape of LaPO4. XRD results indicated that no LaPO4 was obtained in the absence of water. SEM results demonstrated the change of shape with the increasing ratio of ethanol to water. This synthetic strategy reported here may be extended to synthesize other hierarchical nanostructure materials.