Solution combustion synthesis of LaFeO₃ powders and their carbon ignition property

LaFeO₃ powders were prepared as the oxidation catalyst materials to reduce the emission of particulate matters from diesel engine and their catalytic effects on the oxidation of carbon were investigated. Solution combustion method was employed for the powder synthesis, which uses highly exothermic and self-sustaining reactions. In this study LaFeO₃ powders were synthesized at 400°C as varying the ratio (Φ) of fuel (citric acid) and oxidizer (metal nitrate), and their phase and carbon ignition property were examined. As Φ decreases, the crystallinity of synthesized LaFeO₃ powders enhanced. By calcining at 700°C, all the powders synthesized at various Φ fully crystallized. The calcined LaFeO₃ powders showed carbon ignition temperature as low as 501∼530°C, which implied the decrease of the ignition temperature by 120∼150°C.