A glass formation study of aqueous rare earth electrolyte solutions

Abstract

Glass formations of aqueous rare earth chloride, nitrate, perchlorate, and trifluoroacetate solutions were investigated. The series behavior of glass transition temperatures (T/sub g/'s) was discussed in conjunction with the hydration (coordination) number change in the middle of the series. It is concluded that the change of the inner-sphere coordination (hydration) number is the major cause for most of the irregularities observed in aqueous rare earth electrolyte solutions across the rare earth series. They confirm again that the population of the Eu/sup 3 +/ ions holding nine water molecules in their innermost hydration spheres increases with increasing salt concentration in a glassy EuCl/sub 3/ solution.