Luminescence Study of the Thermal Decomposition of Europium Trichloride Hexahydrate,EuCl 3 ·6H 2 O

Abstract

We have studied the thermal decomposition of EuCl₃·6H₂O using in situ measurements of the Eu³⁺ ion luminescence spectrum. The luminescence spectrum proved to be extremely sensitive to structural and compositional changes undergone by the title compound during the decomposition process. There appeared to be no change in the oxidation state of the europium throughout the decomposition process. Four differently hydrated species of EuCl₃·nH₂O (n = 6, 3, 2, or 1) were identified via luminescence spectroscopy. We also observed another intermediate compound formed from the monohydrate prior to the final product EuOCl. Our analysis of this intermediate's spectrum indicates a single Eu³⁺ ion site, which is consistent with a formulation of Eu(OH)Cl₂ rather than a mixed EuOCl·2EuCl₃ product, both of which have been postulated by others on the basis of their thermogravimetric measurements.

Keywords

Luminescence Thermal decomposition

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