A simple synthesis of the refractory ceramic sulfide CeS by electron beam irradiation

Abstract

A new, relatively fast and simple synthesis of the refractory sulfide CeS using\ud electron beam irradiation has been developed. Differently from the most common\ud procedures involving highly reactive and/or toxic precursors such as cerium\ud hydride and carbon disulfide, the approach here presented is based on the electron\ud beam irradiation of pellets composed of a mixture of cerium sesquisulfide, cerium\ud dioxide and graphite powders, i.e., nontoxic and nonreactive materials in ambient\ud conditions that do not need any special caution during their use. CeS with a purity\ud ≥98 wt% has been obtained, being Ce2O2S the impurity and whose amount\ud can be lowered by annealing on a graphite surface