Synthesis of LaMnO3 Nanofibers via Electrospinning

Abstract

Polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)/[La(NO3)3+Mn(CH3COO)2] composite nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning, andpolycrystalline LaMnO3 nanofibers were prepared by calcination of the PVA/[La(NO3)3+Mn(CH3COO)2] compositenanofibers at 600ºC for 10h. The samples were characterized by using thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis(TG-DTA), X-ray diffraction spectrometry(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and Fourier transform infraredspectrometry(FTIR). The results show that PVA/[La(NO3)3+Mn(CH3COO)2] composite nanofibers are amorphous instructure, and pure phase LaMnO3 nanofibers are orthorhombic with space group Pbnm. The surface of as-preparedcomposite nanofibers is smooth, and the diameter is about 150nm. The diameter of LaMnO3 nanofibers is smaller thanthat of the relevant composite fibers. The surface of the LaMnO3 nanofibers becomes coarse with the increase ofcalcination temperatures. The diameter of LaMnO3 nanofibers is ca. 100nm, and the length is greater than 100????m. Themass of the sample remains constant when the temperature is above 450ºC, and the total mass loss percentage is 94.6%.Possible formation mechanism of LaMnO3 nanofibers is preliminarily proposed.