Synthesis, Structural Characterization and Thermal Stability of Nanocrystalline Rare-Earth Chromates (RECrO4) and Rare-Earth Chromites (RECrO3)

In this study, a series of nanocrystalline single-phasic RECrO4(La-Lu, except Ce and Pm) compounds have been synthesized by glycine-nitrate combustion method in fuel-deficient ratio. The compounds were characterized by techniques such as XRD (X-ray diffraction) and TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy). RECrO3 series of compounds were obtained after decomposition of the respective RECrO4 compounds. XRD studies of the respective products, confirms the formation of mono-phasic rare-earth chromates (RECrO4) and chromites (RECrO3). Thermal behavior of all the rare-earth chromates (RECrO4) was studied using simultaneous TG-DTA. Decreasing trend was observed in decomposition temperature from LaCrO4 to LuCrO4. Stability of RECrO4 compounds have been correlated with structural, thermodynamics and heat transport aspects of the respective compounds.