Preparation, Structure and Selected Catalytic Properties of La₂CuO₄ Nano Mixed Metal Oxides

Abstract

The perovskite-structured La2CuO4 nanoparticles have been synthesized via an ultrasonic-assisted co-precipitation route using octanoic acid as organic surfactant, and the phase composition, morphology, lattice parameters and size of nanoparticles are characterized through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Transmission electron microscopy. Magnetic measurements are carried out by a vibrating sample magnetometer on the resultant powders at room temperature. Vibrating sample magnetometer shows nanoparticles exhibit ferromagnetic behavior. The synthesized perovskite yields comparatively pure crystalline phase of La2CuO4 nanoparticles. These nanoparticles are used as an efficient and effective catalyst for the oxidation of aldehydes to corresponding carboxylic acids, and this oxidation protocol works well for various aldehydes. Also the La2CuO4 nanoparticles can be recycled for several times without obvious loss of activity. The results show the utilization of these nano catalysts have several advantages, viz. high yields, clean reaction, short reaction times and recyclability of the catalyst.