Synthesis of nanostructured perovskite powders via simple carbonate co-precipitation

A very simple, cost-effective, chloride- and alkali-free, carbonate co-precipitation synthesis in aqueous medium was applied in the preparation of perovskite-type lanthanum manganese oxide-based powders, i.e. La_0.70Sr_0.30MnO_3?δ (LSM) and La_0.75Sr_0.25Cr_0.5Mn_0.5O_3?δ (LSCrM). The precursors so obtained yielded nano-structured perovskite oxides when treated at 900°C and 800°C, respectively. The measured BET surface areas were in the low-end range for high temperature oxides (4 m² g^?1 and 10 m² g^?1) but the X-ray crystallite size was as low as 50 nm for LSCrM and 90 nm for LSM.