Dysprosium(III) oxalate
Dysprosium oxalate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula. It forms hydrates, with the decahydrate being commonly encountered. The anhydrous form is amorphous and unstable, decomposing to dysprosium(III) oxide at 610°C. It is insoluble in water.
Preparation
Dysprosium oxalate, as well as other lanthanide oxalates, can be prepared through "homogeneous precipitation induced by acid-catalyzed oxamic acid hydrolysis". Dysprosium(III) nitrate in dilute nitric acid is mixed with an excess of oxamic acid and the mixture is heated at 40°C until all oxamic acid dissolves. The temperature is then raised to 85°C and the solution is left for 7 hours, causing large crystals of dysprosium oxalate to form as the oxalic acid is slowly generated.
Uses
Under 364 nm UV light, dysprosium oxalate nanocrystals emit blue, yellow and red light. As a result, they are suitable for white light emitting diodes and offer advantages such as high luminescence efficiency, color repeatability, and low manufacturing cost over other technologies utilizing multiple components to achieve white light. They can be prepared by microwave-assisted co-precipitation using dysprosium nitrate hexahydrate, oxalic acid dihydrate, and ethylene glycol.
Metal organic frameworks
Several dysprosium oxalate metal organic frameworks have been synthesized. For example, the nine-coordinated 2D compound can be prepared through a hydrothermal reaction of sodium oxalate and dysprosium(III) perchlorate hexahydrate. In addition, the 3D compound can be prepared through a hydrothermal reaction involving dysprosium(III) nitrate pentahydrate, oxalic acid, and phen. These dysprosium-based MOFs are of research interest in the field of single-molecule magnets.