Oxidation and thermal decomposition of sodium and potassium borohydrides

LaB6 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized at 1200 °C via a solid-state reaction. The synthesis was carried out under vacuum condition, with LaCl3 and NaBH4 as the reactants. XRD (X-ray diffraction) patterns indicated the formation of LaB6. Result from FESEM (field emission scanning electron microscope) showed that the products were mostly composed of cubic particles with sizes ranging from 20 nm to 100 nm. HRTEM (high-resolution transmission electron microscope) images confirmed the formation of nanocrystalline LaB6 with dominant (1 0 0) planes. Effects of different processing parameters during the reaction were investigated as well.