Thermodynamic assessment of the gallium-oxygen system

Abstract

The experimental information relevant to the Ga-O binary system has been critically assessed. A self-consistent set of Gibbs energy functions describing the phases in this system and a phase diagram are presented for the first time. The adjustable parameters of the models are obtained by a least-squares fit to the experimental data. The liquid phase is described by Hillert's partially ionic liquid model. The gallium oxides (α-, β-, γ-, and δ-Ga2O3) are modeled as stoichiometric phases. The gas phase is treated as an ideal solution of the species Ga, Ga2, Ga2O, GaO, O, O2, and O3. The calculated phase diagram and thermodynamic properties agree very well with most of the experimental measurements.