Synthesis of lanthanum oxalate hierarchical micro-particles and nano-tubes

Lanthanum oxalate hierarchical micro-particles and nano-tubes were synthesised on a large scale through a simple precipitation method at room temperature in the mixed solvent of water and ethanol (volume ratio 1:1), in which trisodium citrate (Na3Cit) was chosen as the complex agent. The lanthanum oxalate particles were characterised by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The possible formation mechanisms of the La2(C2O4)3 · 10H2O hierarchical micro-particles and nano-tubes were discussed, which disclosed that trisodium citrate and the mixed solvent had great influence on the morphology evolution of the products. The method may be applied in the synthesis of other lanthanide compounds.