Synthesis of samarium sesquioxide from the thermal decomposition of samarium oxychloride.

M. R. ESQUIVEL; A. E. BOHÉ; D. M. PASQUEVICH

MATERIALS RESEARCH BULLETIN

ELSEVIER

Lugar: St. Louis USA, Editor: Kwang Lun Li Department of Materials National Cheng Kung University Tainan Taiwan 701 REPUBLIC OF CHINA; Año: 2007 vol. 42 p. 553 - 562

0025-5408

In this work, the synthesis of Sm2O3 from SmOCl (P4/nmm) was studied by gravimetry under flowing air between 600 ºC and 950 ºC. Reactants and products were identified and analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). From the results, the global stoichiometry of  the reaction was obtained.  Between 800 ºC and 950 ºC, the formation of both cubic Sm2O3 (Ia3) and monoclinic Sm2O3 (C2/m) phases was observed.  Below 800 ºC,  only cubic Sm2O3 was detected. Quantification of  phases was made using the Rietveld Method. Combined with the analysis of the evolution of the microstructure by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), an elemental analysis of the kinetics of the reaction was made and a reaction scheme was proposed.