Preparation and Characterization of Ferromagnetic Nanoparticles of La2O3 by Thermal Decomposition Approach

Recently a number of researchers have reported the synthesis of transition metal nanoparticlesby thermal decompositionof organometallic complexes as precursors. Nanomaterials havebeen extensively explored because their properties are different from bulk materials.Nanostructured materials exhibit interesting properties and applications such asin conductingpaints, magnetic drug targeting, recording material and catalyst, gas sensor and anti-virusagent, etc [1-3]. In the present work, La2O3 nanoparticles were prepared through thermal decompositionof ([La(Pydc)2(H2O)3].4H2O)n. The structural properties of La2O3 nanoparticleswere studied byFourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction pattern, scanningelectron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer. The magnetic properties of La2O3nanoparticles at room temperature through magnetization versus magnetic field is shown inFig.1 .It is well known that the La2O3 nanoparticles display ferromagnetism with a narrowhysteresis loop. The corresponding values of saturation magnetization (Ms), remnant magnetization(Mr) and coercivity (Hc) is 0.01 emu/g, 0.002 emu/g and 282 Oe respectively.