Publications Details

Dehydration and solid solution formation for the LaBr3-CeBr 3 binary system

Diantonio, Christopher; Boyle, Timothy; Rodriguez, Mark A.; Sanchez, Margaret

Anhydrous cerium bromide (CeBr3) and cerium doped lanthanum bromide (Ce+3-LaBr3) were obtained by the dehydration of hydrates synthesized by a direct acidification process. The dehydration process involves heating in vacuum through three phase changes - hydrate, amorphous, and crystalline LaBr3. Incomplete removal of the bound water leads to the formation of oxybromides and the partial reduction of the lanthanum at high temperatures. It was found that upon the completion of dehydration (< 200°C) a complete solid solution can be formed between LaBr3 and CeBr3. These two compounds form a simple binary phase diagram. Challenges associated with the dehydration process are discussed.