Thermal analysis of cesium hafnium chloride using DSC–TG under vacuum, nitrogen atmosphere, and in enclosed system

Abstract

This paper reports on the preparation of undoped cesium hafnium chloride (Cs2HfCl6) and study of its thermal properties. The Cs2HfCl6 is considered, due to its excellent scintillation properties, as a promising candidate for cost-effective radiation detectors with potential to replace traditional halide scintillators, e.g., NaI:Tl and CsI:Tl. The Cs2HfCl6 material was successfully synthesized from a cesium chloride and a hafnium chloride mixed together in stoichiometric ratio. The presence of only one crystalline phase of the Cs2HfCl6 in the material was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction analysis. The simultaneous non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry (DSC–TG) of the synthesized material under nitrogen atmosphere, vacuum, and in enclosed system was performed. The Cs2HfCl6 decomposition and melting of CsCl–Cs2HfCl6 mixture under nitrogen and vacuum were observed. On the contrary, the DSC measurement of the cesium hafnium chloride in enclosed system showed only one endothermic peak related to the congruent melting point. Furthermore, the repeated DSC–TG measurements to investigate the materials’ stability in enclosed system were carried out as well.