[ $LaFeO_3$ ] powders were synthesized using a method involving solution combustion, and the surface properties of these powders were examined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. As the amount of fuel increased during the synthesis, the $LaFeO_3$ powders became amorphous with a large plate-like shape. It was found that the O 1s spectra were composed of two types of photoelectrons by deconvolutioning the spectra. Photoelectrons with higher binding energy come from adsorbed oxygen ($O^-$) whereas those with lower energy come from lattice oxygen ($O^{2-}$). The ratio of adsorbed and lattice oxygen increased as the ratio of the fuel and nitrate (${Phi}$) increased. The binding energy of both types of oxygen increased as ${Phi}$ increased due to the formation of carbonates.