The Novel Synthesis of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 Using the Michael-Addition Directed Hydrogelation of Acrylates for Materials Synthesis (MADHAMS) Method

This report describes the low-temperature synthesis of nanocrystalline perovskite oxide, La 0.8 Sr 0.2 MnO 3 (LSM), using the ammonium acrylate salt precursor gel method that employs 3,3‘,3‘ ‘-nitrilotripropionic acid (NTP) as the gelling agent. Due to its high degree of hydrogen bonding with water, NTP can absorb many times its own weight of water to yield a viscous liquid. Subsequent pyrolysis converts the mixture to the desired metal oxides. This preparative method has several advantages such as homogeneity, excellent control of stoichiometry, ease of handling, lower heating times and temperatures, and the production of uniform particle size and distribution. The synthesis of the LSM is achieved in as little as 10 hours (400 °C) with uniform distribution of particles that are 25 nm in size.