Green Synthesis Approaches for Lanthanum Nanorods and Their Physicochemical Characterization

The development of environmentally benign nanomaterial synthesis routes has become a central objective in sustainable materials science. In this study, a green synthesis strategy for the preparation of lanthanum nanorods is presented using plant-derived phytochemicals as reducing and stabilizing agents. The proposed method eliminates the need for toxic solvents and hazardous surfactants commonly employed in conventional chemical routes. Reaction parameters such as precursor concentration, pH, temperature, and extract composition were systematically optimized to achieve controlled anisotropic growth. The formation of lanthanum nanorods was confirmed through comprehensive physicochemical characterization. X-ray diffraction analysis verified phase purity and crystallinity, while scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed well-defined rod-like morphology with uniform size distribution. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated the involvement of bioactive functional groups in reduction and surface stabilization. UV–visible spectroscopy and photoluminescence studies provided insight into optical properties and electronic transitions. Surface area and elemental composition were further examined using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, respectively. The synthesized nanorods exhibited enhanced stability and tunable surface characteristics, highlighting their potential in catalysis, sensing, environmental remediation, and biomedical applications. This work demonstrates that green synthetic approaches can produce structurally controlled lanthanum nanostructures with desirable physicochemical properties while aligning with principles of sustainability and reduced environmental impact.