Atomic fluorine in cobalt trifluoride thermolysis

The thermal decomposition of cobalt trifluoride was studied by High Temperature Mass Spectrometry (HTMS). It was ascertained that the rate of atomic fluorine evolution in the gas phase might be increased by adding small amounts of Ni(s) or CoF₂(s) to cobalt trifluoride. Scanning Electron Microscopy combined with Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) was used to determine the morphology and composition of the solid product surface layer formed under different rates of CoF₃(s) thermolysis.