Crystal growth and TG-DTA properties of K(2)Ln(NO3)(5).2H(2)O (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm)

Single crystals of KLnN(Ln=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) can be grown in water solution with pH approximate to 1 similar to 2 at about 40 degrees C. Crystals of KLnN (Ln=La, Ce, Pr, Nd) are orthorhombic with space group Fdd2. KPrN crystal was grwon and its crystal structure was determined for the first time. The KPrN crystal parameters obtained by the direct method are as follows: a=21.411(3) Angstrom, b=11.2210(10)Angstrom, c=12.208(2) Angstrom, Z=6, R=0.0240. The TG-DTA curves of KLnN(Ln=La,Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) demonstrate that the processes of dehydration, melt, irreversible phase transition and decomposition of NO3- take place in sequence with the temperature increasing(except KCN). There are three steps in the decomposition of NO3- in KLnN(Ln=La, Nd, Sm) while two steps in KLnN (Ln=Ce, Pr). K(2)Ln(NO3)(5). 2H(2)O are formed at about 225 degrees C by the reaction of the starting materials of KNO3 and Ln(NO3)(3). nH(2)O.