The lanthanide oxide nitrates LnONO3 with Ln = Pr, Nd, and Sm-Yb were synthesised by thermal decomposition of hydrated lanthanide nitrates. The compounds were refined isotypically to YONO3 in the tetragonal space group P4/nmm and the structure is closely related to the PbFCl-type. Because of the orientational disorder of NO3 − in this structure refinement a possible superstructure is discussed.
Together with the oxide ions, the metal ions form [Ln2O2]2+ layers, alternating with double (NO3)− layers. Lattice parameters were determined by powder X-ray diffraction, and the structure of HoONO3 was refined by Rietveld analysis. Some thermoanalytical data are given and magnetic properties were measured for LnONO3 with Ln = Nd, Sm, Eu, and Gd.