On the Lanthanide Ferrocyanides KLnFe(II)(CN)6·xH2O (Ln=La-Lu): Characterization and Thermal Evolution

The properties of a series of lanthanide hexacyanoferrate(II) n-hydrates were studied by thermal analysis, IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Thermal analysis results show that there are three kinds of complexes in this series, KLn[Fe(CN)6]·4 H2O (Ln=La-Nd), KSm[Fe(CN)6]·3H2O and KLn[Fe (CN)6]·3.5H2O (Ln=Eu-Lu). On the basis of IR spectra, only two different types of complexes show obvious differences. Indeed for the tetrahydrates, there is one OH stretching band; on the other hand, for the samarium phase and the 3.5 hydrates a splitting of HOH stretching mode is observed. The splitting of the H2O band is correlated to a symmetry modification. The crystal structures of the three complexes KLn[Fe(CN)6]·3.5H2O (Ln=Eu, Er and Lu) were determined; they belong to orthorhombic symmetry (space group Cmcm). Heat-treated powders have been investigated by X-ray analysis which show the formation of thin needles of LnFeO3 at 600°C.