Pure and Ca-doped LaCoO3 Nanopowders: Sol-Gel Synthesis, Characterization and Magnetic Properties

This work is focused on the sol-gel synthesis of pure and Ca-doped LaCoO3 nanopowders. The samples were prepared starting from methanolic solutions of cobalt (II) acetate (Co(CH3COO)2.4H2O), lanthanum (III) nitrate (La(NO3)3.6H2O) and calcium (II) acetate (Ca(CH3COO)2.H2O). After solvent evaporation, the obtained powders were dried under vacuum and subsequently treated in air up to 1273 K. The system evolution under thermal annealing was studied by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), while the chemical composition was analyzed by X-ray Photoelectron (XPS) and X-ray Excited Auger electron (XE-AES) spectroscopies. The temperature and field dependence of the magnetic properties of the Ca-doped samples were investigated, and compared to those of the corresponding pure LaCoO3 powders.