Synthesis and High-Temperature Heat Capacity of Dy2Ge2O7 and Ho2Ge2O7

Abstract

The Dy2Ge2O7 and Ho2Ge2O7 pyrogermanates have been prepared by solid-state reactions in several sequential firing steps in the temperature range 1237–1473 K using stoichiometric mixtures of Dy2O3 (or Ho2O3) and GeO2. The heat capacity of the synthesized germanates has been determined as a function of temperature by differential scanning calorimetry in the range 350–1000 K. The experimentally determined C p (T) curves of the dysprosium and holmium germanates have no anomalies and are well represented by the Maier–Kelley equation. The experimental C p (T) data have been used to evaluate the thermodynamic functions of the Dy2Ge2O7 and Ho2Ge2O7 pyrogermanates: enthalpy increment H°(T)–H°(350 K), entropy change S°(T)–S°(350 K), and reduced Gibbs energy Ф°(T).