Heat capacities and absolute entropies of UTi₂O₆ and CeTi₂O₆

Summary

As part of a larger study of the physical properties of potential ceramic hosts for nuclear wastes, we report the molar heat capacity of brannerite (UTi₂O₆) and its cerium analog (CeTi₂O₆) from 10 to 400 K using an adiabatic calorimeter. At 298.15 K the standard molar heat capacities are (179.46±0.18) J K^-1 mol^-1 for UTi₂O₆  and (172.78±0.17) J K^-1 mol^-1 for CeTi₂O₆. Entropies were calculated from smooth fits of the experimental data and were found to be (175.56±0.35) J K^-1 mol^-1 and (171.63±0.34) J K^-1 mol^-1 for UTi₂O₆ and CeTi₂O₆, respectively. Using these entropies and enthalpy of formation data reported in the literature, Gibb’s free energies of formation from the elements and constituent oxides were calculated. Standard free energies of formation from the elements are (-2814.7±5.6) kJ mol^-1 for UTi₂O₆ and (-2786.3±5.6) kJ mol^-1 for CeTi₂O₆. The free energy of formation from the oxides at T=298.15 K are (-5.31±0.01) kJ mol^-1 and (15.88±0.03) kJ mol^-1 for UTi₂O₆ and CeTi₂O₆, respectively.