THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF COPPER OXALATE AND POTASSIUM OXALATOCUPRATE ACCORDING TO XPS DATA

Thermal decomposition processes in the range from room temperature to 400°C of copper(II) oxalate CuCO·½HO and potassium oxalate cuprate(II) KCu(CO)·2HO in vacuum at the residual pressure 10 mm Hg with XPS and Auger spectra recorded are studied. An X-ray photoelectron spectrometer with a magnetic energy analyzer is used. The analysis of XPS and Auger spectroscopy data shows that thermal decomposition of CuCO·½HO involves the stages of detachment of crystallization water (150–265°C), CO (265–285°C) with an unstable intermediate product formed and decomposed at 285°C with the metallic copper residue formed with admixture of 11–13 mol. % of copper(I) oxide. Thermal decomposition of KCu(CO)·2HO involves the stages of elimination of crystallization water (85–120°C) and decomposition of the obtained anhydrous oxalate with elimination of CO and CO (250–290°C).