Tb/Na tobermorite: Thermal behaviour and high temperature products

By heating a sample of Tb/Na tobermorite we obtained a phase which was identified through its X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, as terbium silicate apatite. Subsequently this compound has been directly prepared by solid state reaction and we carried out a structural refinement from XRD data in space group P63/m obtaining cell parameters a=9.39199(4) Å and c=6.84041(5) Å. Terbium silicate apatite heated in melted NaF led to Tb4O7 crystals.

Graphical AbstractBy heating over 900 °C Tb/Na tobermorite a terbium silicate apatite was obtained. The same product has been independently prepared and structurally characterized from powder diffraction data. Attempts of crystallizing terbium silicate apatite from melted NaF led to Tb4O7 crystals.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide