Calorimetric study and thermal analysis of [Gd4/3Y2/3(Gly)6(H2O)4](ClO4)6·5H2O and [ErY(Gly)6(H2O)4](ClO4)6·5H2O (Gly: glycin)

Two solid-state coordination compounds of rare earth metals with glycin, [Gd4/3Y2/3(Gly)6(H2O)4](ClO4)6·5H2O and [ErY(Gly)6(H2O)4](ClO4)6·5H2O were synthesized. The low-temperature heat capacities of the two coordination compounds were measured with an adiabatic calorimeter over the temperature range from 78 to 376 K. [Gd4/3Y2/3(Gly)6(H2O)4](ClO4)6·5H2O melted at 342.90 K, while [ErY(Gly)6(H2O)4](ClO4)6·5H2O melted at 328.79 K. The molar enthalpy and entropy of fusion for the two coordination compounds were determined to be 18.48 kJ mol−1 and 53.9 J K−1 mol−1 for [Gd4/3Y2/3(Gly)6(H2O)4](ClO4)6·5H2O, 1.82 kJ mol−1 and 5.5 J K−1 mol−1 for [ErY(Gly)6(H2O)4](ClO4)6·5H2O, respectively. Thermal decompositions of the two coordination compounds were studied through the thermogravimetry (TG). Possible mechanisms of the decompositions are discussed.