Thermal stabilities of hexagonal and orthorhombic YbFeO3 synthesized by solvothermal method and their catalytic activities for methane combustion

Thermal stabilities of hexagonal and orthorhombic YbFeO₃ samples synthesized by the solvothermal method were investigated. The morphology and BET surface area of hexagonal YbFeO₃ did not change by calcination, while orthorhombic YbFeO₃ easily sintered, resulting in a decrease of the BET surface area. The hexagonal YbFeO₃ sample, which had a high surface area (29 m²/g) after calcination at 800 °C, had higher catalytic activity for methane combustion than the orthorhombic YbFeO₃ samples calcined at 800 °C.