Thermal, phase transition and FTIR spectroscopic studies in tetraethylammonium trichlorocadmiate crystals

Abstract

Single crystals of tetraethylammonium trichlorocadmiate were grown by slow evaporation of aqueous solutions at room temperature. The bright and transparent crystals obtained were characterized through FTIR spectroscopy, thermo gravimetric (TG and DTA) and low temperature DSC analyses. A fitting decomposition pattern for the title compound was formulated based on the TG thermogram which shows a two-stage weight loss between 300°C and 800°C. In this temperature range the DTA curve shows endothermic dips supporting the formulated decomposition pattern. The thermal anomalies observed in the low temperature DSC both during the heating and cooling cycles indicate the occurrence of the first and second order structural phase transitions in the compound. The FTIR and far IR spectra show characteristic vibration frequencies due to [N(C 2 H 5 ) 4 ] + and CdCl 3 -ions. Detailed structural analysis of the compound is under progress.