Synthesis of CuO, La2O3, and La2CuO4 by the Thermal-Decomposition of Oxalates Precursors Using a New Method

A new procedure to prepare oxides materials from oxalates complexes precursors is presented. Detailed description of the method is reported, illustrated with examples of the preparation of oxides. A solid-solid reaction between the oxalic acid and nitrate salt of metal leads to the formation of the corresponding oxalate. These oxalates are used as precursors and are heated to form the corresponding oxides by thermal-decomposition. This article relates the first examples of oxides prepared by this new method: the synthesis of the copper oxide CuO, the hexagonal phase of lanthanum oxide La2O3, and the lanthanum cuprate La2CuO4. All the samples are characterized by SEM and XRD. Thermal analysis TGA and DTA show the expected thermo-decomposition behavior for both copper and lanthanum oxalates. This study reveals also the formation mechanism of the cuprate La2CuO4 from the used precursor.