Phase diagrams of the systems Sc2S3-Ln2S3 for Ln = La,Nd, or Gd

Phase diagrams have been designed for the systems Sc₂S₃-Ln₂S₃ where Ln = La, Nd, or Gd. In these systems, complex sulfides crystallize in orthorhombic space group Pnma. The sulfides melt congruently and have the following parameters; for LaScS₃, a = 0.718 nm, b = 0.654 nm, c = 0.960 nm, 2000 K, 3200 MPa; for NdScS₃, a = 0.712 nm, b = 0.646 nm, c = 0.952 nm, 1960 K, 3500 MPa; and for GdScS₃, a = 0.704 nm, b = 0.640 nm, c = 0.946 nm, 1900 K, 3400 MPa. The extents of the solid solutions based on the existing phases increase as the effective ion radii of Ln³⁺ approaches that of Sc³⁺. At 1670 K, the LnScS₃ homogeneity region is 48–52 mol % Nd₂S₃ and 46–54 mol % Gd₂S₃. Sc₂S₃ dissolves 3 mol % Nd₂S₃ and 6 mol % Gd₂S₃. γ-Nd₂S₃ dissolves 2 mol % Sc₂S₃, and γ-Gd₂S₃ dissolves 4 mol % Sc₂S₃. The subsystems Sc₂S₃-LnScS₃ and LnScS₃-Ln₂S₃ are of the eutectic type. The eutectic coordinates are, respectively, 27 mol % La₂S₃, 1880 K; 75 mol % La₂S₃, 1800 K; 30 mol % Nd₂S₃, 1850 K; 74 mol % Nd₂S₃, 1770 K; 33 mol % Gd₂S₃, 1800 K; and 74 mol % Gd₂S₃, 1730 K.