Influence of dissolved nitrogen and carbon on reactions of cerium(III) and cerium(IV) oxides with liquid lithium
Abstract
Cerium(IV) oxide, CeO2, reacts with pure liquid lithium at 360 °C to give the previously unreported ternary oxide LiCeO2. The latter is not stable towards nitrogen dissolved in the liquid metal. Reaction of both CeO2 and cerium(III) oxide. Ce2O3, with liquid lithium containing dissolved nitrogen gives lithium oxide and cerium mono-nitride, CeN, as products. At higher nitrogen concentrations the formation of the ternary nitride Li2CeN2 has been observed. Reaction of CeO2 with liquid lithium containing dissolved carbon gives Li2O and the carbide CeC as products. Cerium(III) oxide does not react with pure liquid lithium.