Evaluation of the optical properties of various-shaped and core-shell-structured lanthanum hexaboride nanoparticles based on discrete dipole approximation

•Extinction efficiencies of various shaped and core-shell structured LaB6 nanoparticles has been studied by discrete dipole approximation.•Rod-like structure has more advantages in extinction at long wavelength.•LaB6@TiO2, LaB6@ZnO and LaB6@SiO2 exhibits preferable transparent heat shielding performance, which is expected to solve the long-term stability of LaB6 in the actual environment.