Samarium zirconate: thermodynamics and vaporization at high temperatures

Abstract The purpose of the present research was to study vaporization processes and thermodynamic properties of samarium zirconate with the pyrochlore structure. The Sm2Zr2O7 sample was synthesized by the glycol-citrate method with the confirmation of its pyrochlore structure using X-ray phase analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The thermodynamic properties and vaporization processes of samarium zirconate were examined by the high temperature mass spectrometric method at temperatures 2299-2730 K. The data obtained in the present study for the first time allowed determination of the Gibbs energy of formation of samarium zirconate from the pure oxides at 2460 K, which was equal to -115.7 kJ/mol, and, as a consequence, the values of the Gibbs energy and enthalpy of formation from the pure oxides at the temperature 298.15 K, which were equal to -130.5 kJ/mol and -131.4 kJ/mol, respectively.