Structure and heat capacity of the NaCeF4 compound

This work continued our general research program on obtaining metallic cerium by electrodeposition from NaCeF4 dissolved in different molten fluorides. The structure of NaCeF4 (cubic or hexagonal depending on the way of preparation) was established by DTA analysis, IR spectra and X-ray diffraction. The heat capacity (Cp) of NaCeF4 was measured by differential scanning calorimetry in the temperature range of 300–1093 K using the “step-method”. The Cp was fitted by an equation with a satisfactory result. Heat capacity was compared with that calculated from the Neumann-Kopp rule (NKR) and the deviations observed were consistent with the stability of the NaCeF4 compound.