Synthesis and characterization of lanthanum oxide nanotubes using dendritic surfactant

Lanthanum oxide nanotubes were synthesized via a surpramolecular assembly route, employing a dendritic surfactant, 3,3′,3″,3‴-(ethane-1,2-diylbis (azanetriyl))tetrakis(N-(2-aminoethyl)propanamide), and a co-surfactant, polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol, namely AEO₉. The nanotubes were characterized by means of XRD, TEM, SAED, and N₂-physisorption, and the results indicate that the nanotubes possess an average length of above 160 nm and a meso-microporous hierarchical structure with an average micropore size of ca.1.32 nm and average mesopore sizes of 6-8 nm and 25 nm. The employing of co-surfact AEO₉ promoted the formation of dendimer surfactant micells that template the mesophase of the specimen via a cooperation route. The characteristic strip-like shape of the surfactant might contribute the formation of the nanotublar morphology and the hydrothermal treatment result in the crystallization of the lanthanum oxides and in turn the appearance of the micropores within the walls of the nanotubes.