On the local structural change in molten LaCl mixtures by the difference of the solvent salt

Okamoto, Yoshihiro  ; Shiwaku, Hideaki   ; Ikeda, Atsushi  ; Suzuki, Shinichi; Akutsu, Kazuhiro; Kobayashi, Toru ; Yaita, Tsuyoshi; Madden, P. A.*

The solvent dependency of the local structure in molten LaCl was examined by using the X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and molecular dynamics (MD) techniques. An octahedral coordination structure (LaCl) is not formed and stabilized by the mixing with LiCl and MgCl, but with KCl. It suggests that a cation having smaller size and higher electric charge obstructs the stabilization of the coordination structure.