LaFeO3

LaFeO3 is a lanthanum ferrite, a transition‑metal oxide that belongs to the family of rare‑earth perovskites. Its formula corresponds to an ABO3 perovskite in which La3+ sits on the A-site and Fe3+ on the B-site. At room temperature it adopts an orthorhombic distorted perovskite structure (space group Pnma), with corner‑sharing FeO6 octahedra connected by tilted bonds.

LaFeO3 is typically prepared by solid‑state reaction of La2O3 and Fe2O3 at high temperatures (often 1000–1200 °C). Alternative approaches such as sol‑gel, combustion synthesis, and hydrothermal routes can provide nano‑ and microcrystalline powders with improved homogeneity and lower processing temperatures. Phase purity is commonly confirmed by X‑ray diffraction.

Magnetic and electronic properties include G‑type antiferromagnetism with a high Néel temperature around 740 K and a weak ferromagnetic component due to spin canting. It is generally described as a wide‑bandgap semiconductor/insulator, with a bandgap in the approximate range of 2.0–2.5 eV, and is thermally stable under ambient conditions.

Applications include catalysis for oxidation reactions, gas sensing, and photocatalysis, especially when doped or coupled with other semiconductors to extend activity into the visible region. Doping at the A‑ or B‑site (for example La1−xSrxFeO3 or LaFe1−yMyO3) or formation of solid solutions is used to tune conductivity, magnetism, and catalytic performance.

LaFeO3 is part of the broader RFeO3 family (R = rare earth) and serves as a platform for exploring structure–property relationships in distorted perovskites.