SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE
Microwave synthesis of LaCrO3
Abstract
The synthesis of LaCrO
3
from a stoichiometric mixture of Cr
2
O
3
and La
2
O
3
powder by microwave irradiation was examined using a multi-mode 28 GHz microwave heating system. In the La
2
O
3
-Cr
2
O
3
system, Cr
2
O
3
strongly absorbs microwaves while La
2
O
3
is transparent to microwaves. The reaction proceeded rapidly and LaCrO
3
could be synthesised within 15 min of irradiation. Surprisingly, the temperature required for the microwave synthesis (440°C) is much lower than that for conventional synthesis (>1200°C) using an electric furnace. The effect of the partial pressure of oxygen in the microwave chamber on the formation of LnCrO
3
was investigated. The formation of LnCrO
3
is enhanced with increase in the partial pressure of oxygen for Ln=La and Nd, while opposite behavior is seen for Ln=Gd, Tb, Dy and Ho.
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