Structure of di-2-ethylhexyl phosphates of rare earth elements

Using data obtained from swing X-ray patterns of textured samples (texturograms), diffraction pattern of europium di-2-ethylhexylphosphate powder (EuA2), which has a hexagonal unit cell with parameters a=18.8 A, c=10.4 A, Z=2, was indexed. It follows from comparison of LaA3, NdA3 and EuA3 diffraction patterns that the compounds are isostructural. A model of EuA3 structure was plotted. The presence of EuO6 coordination octahedron and bidentate-bridge alkylphosphate groups in the structure of EuA3 was detected. The lattice is built of polymer chains located in parallel to each other and bound by the Van-der-Vaals forces. On the basis of the model certain physicochemical and chemical properties of LnA3 are considered