FTIR and thermal studies on gel grown neodymium tartrate crystals

• Published in: Journal of thermal analysis and calorimetry 2012-03, Vol.107 (3), p.1031-1037
• Main Authors: Patil, H. M., Sawant, D. K., Bhavsar, D. S., Patil, J. H., Girase, K. D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Analytical Chemistry; Calorimetry; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Exact sciences and technology; Hydrates; Inorganic Chemistry; Inorganic chemistry and origins of life; Magnetic alloys; Measurement Science and Instrumentation; Physical Chemistry; Polymer Sciences; Preparations and properties; Rare earth metals; Salts; Silica; Thermodynamics
• ISSN: 1388-6150; 1588-2926; 1572-8943
• DOI: 10.1007/s10973-011-1599-1

The growth of neodymium tartrate crystals was achieved in silica gel by single diffusion method. Optimum conditions were established for the growth of good quality crystals. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic study indicates the presence of water molecules and tartrate ligands and suggests that tartrate ions are doubly ionised. The thermal behaviour of the material was studied using thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Thermogravimetric analysis support the suggested chemical formula of the grown crystal to be Nd 2 (C 4 H 4 O 6 ) 3 ·7H 2 O, and the presence of seven water molecules as water of hydration. It is shown that the material is thermally stable up 45 °C beyond which it decomposes through many stages till the formation of neodymium oxide (Nd 2 O 3 ) at 995 °C. The decomposition pattern is reported to be typical of a hydrated metal tartrate.