Template-free synthesis of high surface area single-crystalline lanthanum hydroxide nanorods via a low-temperature solution route

Under mild reaction conditions, uniform La(OH)₃ nanorods were fabricated in large scale by a facile template-free solution method. The as-prepared sample was characterized by a number of techniques. It is found that the La(OH)₃ nanorods are hexagonal in structure and single-crystalline, with the diameter and length of 6-30 and 45-200 nm, respectively. The surface area of the nanorods is up to 113 m²/g. We attribute the high surface area to the use of 1-propanol/H₂O mixed solvent and the rapid cooling of sample to 0 °C. A formation mechanism of the rodlike crystal is tentatively suggested. The reported solution-phase process may be a facile and low-cost approach for the generation of high surface area single-crystalline nanorods of other rare earth hydroxides.