Calorimetric study and thermal analysis of [ErY(Ala)4(H2O)8](ClO4)6 (Ala=ALANINE)

A solid complex of rare-earth compounds with alanine, [ErY(Ala)4(H2O)8](ClO4)6 (Ala=alanine), was synthesized, and a calorimetric study and thermal analysis for it was performed through adiabatic calorimetry and thermogravimetry. The low-temperature heat capacity of [ErY(Ala)4(H2O)8](ClO4)6 was measured with an automated adiabatic precision calorimeter over the temperature range from 78 to 377 K. A solid-solid phase transition was found between 99 and 121 K with a peak temperature at 115.78 k. The enthalpy and entropy of the phase transition was determined to be 1.957 Kj mol-1, 16.90 j mol-1 k-1, respectively. Thermal decomposition of the complex was investigated in the temperature range of 40~550°C by use of the thermogravimetric and differential thermogravimetric (TG/DTG) analysis techniques. The TG/DTG curves showed that the decomposition started from 120 and ended at 430°C, completed in three steps. A possible mechanism of the thermal decomposition was elucidated.