Synthesis of nano-sized perovskite-type oxide with the use of polyvinyl pyrrolidone

A new easy-to-use process for obtaining fine powders of lanthanum-based perovskite-type oxides (La1−xAexMO3: Ae = Ca, Sr, M = Mn, Co, Fe) with a high specific surface area was successfully developed by the use of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as a dispersant. This approach made it possible to prepare a single phase of perovskite by calcining at a lower temperature (600 °C) compared to conventional synthetic processes such as a solid state reaction and citrate process. SEM observations revealed that the oxide prepared with PVP was ca. 20–30 nm in size, while those prepared by the citrate process and solid state reaction were ca. 50 nm and 1 μm, respectively. Furthermore, the results of a thermal analysis in which we heated the precursors for the different reactions support the idea that PVP plays an important role in the formation of the perovskite phase at low temperature.