Phosphidtelluriden auf der Spur: Zum System Ce/Te/P. The Trace to Phosphide Tellurides: The System Ce/Te/P

The cerium phosphide tellurides Ce3Te4–xPx (x ≤ 1), CeTe2–xPx (x ≈ 0.35–0.55) and CeTe2–yPy (y ≥ 1) have been synthesised from the elements or from oxides in a thermite‐type reaction. Both ways have been optimised by consideration of the thermodynamic behaviour of the compounds. Hence the investigation of phase equilibria in the ternary system Ce/Te/P and of the thermal decomposition of ternary phases was necessary. This investigation was performed by using different experimental approaches as total‐pressure measurements and thermal analysis. It was shown that the cerium phosphide tellurides decompose in consecutive steps into CeTe(s) and gaseous phosphorus, [P4(g)]. The results were supported and further analysed by thermodynamic modelling of the ternary system; the computed phase diagrams of the systems Ce/Te and Ce/Te/P are presented.