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 (C_p) of NaCeF₄ was measured by differential scanning calorimetry in the temperature range of 300–1093 K using the “step-method”. The C_p 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.