Neodymium oxide (Nd2O3) nanostructures were synthesized via a novel facile solvent-less route. Nanostructures were prepared by heat treatment in air at 900 C for 5 h, using [Nd L(NO3)2]NO3 (L = bis-(2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde)-butanediamine Schiff base ligand), as precursor, which was obtained by a solvent-free solid–solid reaction from different molar ratios of neodymium nitrate and Schiff base ligand. The as-obtained nanostructures were characterized by means of techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. It was found that purity, morphology and particle size of the final Nd2O3 could be dramatically affected via the calcination temperature and molar ratio of neodymium nitrate and Schiff base ligand. The photocatalyst activity of as-prepared nanostructured Nd2O3 was also examined by degradation of rhodamine B as cationic dye under ultraviolet light irradiation.
