Hydrothermal phase equilibria in Ln2O3-H2O systems

Hydrothermal phase equilibria studies have been carried out in the Ln2O3-H2O systems (Ln= La, Pr, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu) and the stability fields of the phases Ln(OH)3 LnOOH and Ln2O3-C have been established in the pressure-temperature range of 25000 psi and 900deg C. The sequioxides Ln2O3-C are stable only in the last four systems of Er to Lu along with the Ln(OH)3 and LnOOH. The systems from Nd to Ho have only Ln(OH)3 and LnOOH as stable phases and those from La to Pr have only Ln(OH)3 as the stable phase. The unit cell parameters of trihydroxides deviate from the values reported in the literature and this is attributed to the contamination of CO2 in the starting material. (author)