Abstract
Due to its electron configuration (Xe) 4 f14 6 s2, Ytterbium (Yb) could form divalent oxide, YbO. In this study, the solid-state synthesis of metastable YbO was investigated by the oxidation of Yb metal at normal pressure using two experimental conditions: 1) heat treatment of Yb metal under Ar gas atmosphere with metal carbonate as an oxygen source; and 2) heat treatment of Yb metal under the continuous gas flow condition using various gas atmospheres. Products were identified using the powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. It was found that almost single phase YbO was obtained in the experimental condition 1) using the molar ratio of Ca-CO3/Yb = 0.4. Thermodynamic calculations suggested that the YbO formation be controlled not by thermodynamics but by kinetics, and further that the evaporation of Yb metal in the BN crucible played a key role for the formation of the meta-stable YbO.
Highlights
It is well known that lanthanide ions have a common stable valence, 3+
The solid-state synthesis of metastable YbO was investigated by the oxidation of Yb metal at normal pressure using two experimental conditions: 1) heat treatment of Yb metal under Ar gas atmosphere with metal carbonate as an oxygen source; and 2) heat treatment of Yb metal under the continuous gas flow condition using various gas atmospheres
Thermodynamic calculations suggested that the YbO formation be controlled not by thermodynamics but by kinetics, and further that the evaporation of Yb metal in the BN crucible played a key role for the formation of the meta-stable YbO
Summary
It is well known that lanthanide ions have a common stable valence, 3+. Since the ionization energies to change from Ln2+ to Ln3+ is larger only in Europium (Eu) with the electron configuration (Xe) 4 f7 6 s2 and Ytterbium (Yb) with the electron configuration (Xe) 4f14 6s2 than in the other lanthanides, divalent Eu and Yb could be stable [1]. It has been known that Eu readily reacts with water or dilute acids to form divalent compounds [2] [3]. Europium oxide (EuO) and Europium sulfide (EuS) are commercially available, and have been used as a fluorescent material [4]. There has been much less reports for synthesizing divalent ytterbium compounds.
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