Some Polynuclear Coordination Compounds Precursors of Chromites Synthesis,Physicochemical Characterization and Thermal Stability

The polynuclear coordination compounds LnCr(tartrate)₃·nH₂O where Ln(III)=La-Er, obtained through a precipitation method, were characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, their electronic and vibrational spectra and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The possibility of obtaining chromites through the transformations of the polynuclear coordination compounds in the solid state was considered. The thermal decompositions of these compounds, studied by TG and DTA methods, were found to follow an almost uniform pattern. The decompositions occurred in six-eight steps. The first two steps involved dehydration, and the third the transformation of tartrate anions to oxalate, followed by conversion to carbonate and oxocarbonate intermediates. The final product in each case was LnCrO₃. A non-isothermal kinetic analysis of the first decomposition steps was performed, the most probable decomposition mechanism being selected and the kinetic parameters evaluated. The final products of the transformations were characterized. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.