OICC Press International Nano Letters 2228-5326 5 2 (June 2015) 2015 03 03 Lanthanum cerate (La2Ce2O7): hydrothermal synthesis, characterization and optical properties 10.1007/s40089-015-0143-x EN Shahin Khademinia Department of Chemistry, Semnan University, Semnan, 35351-19111, IR Mahdi Behzad Department of Chemistry, Semnan University, Semnan, 35351-19111, IR Journal Article 2015 03 03 Abstract La 2 Ce 2 O 7 nano-powders were synthesized via a hydrothermal reaction in a deionized water ( S 1 ) and in a 2 M NaOH aqueous solution ( S 2 ) at 180 °C for 48 h. La(NO 3 ) 3 ·H 2 O and (NH 4 ) 2 Ce(NO 3 ) 6 were used in the stoichiometric 1:1 La:Ce molar ratio as raw materials. The obtained materials were crystallized in a cubic crystal structure with space group. The synthesized materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction technique and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. To investigate the effect of the basic solution on the morphology of the obtained materials, the morphologies of the synthesized materials were studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy technique. The technique showed that the morphology of La 2 Ce 2 O 7 samples changed from grain to rod-like structure in presence of the basic solution. Cell parameter refinements showed that these parameters were larger for S 2 than those for S 1 . Photoluminescence and ultraviolet visible spectra of the synthesized nanomaterials were also investigated.