Growth of Barium Cerate Crystals from BaCl2 Solution

Barium cerate crystals of 1.5 mm diameter could be grown from melt solutions containing barium chloride, barium oxide (from thermolysis of barium carbonate), and cerium(IV) oxide. The maximum size of the crystals is limited by the low solubility of cerium(IV) oxide in the barium chloride melt (ca. 0.1 Mol%). The flux can be removed by leaching the melt with water. Acid solutions must not be used to avoid decomposition of the barium cerate crystals. Neither congruent melting or incongruent decomposition of the BaCeO₃ crystals could be found up to 1580 degrees centigrade.