The energetics of La₄LiAuO₈

La₄LiAuO₈ is a stable Au³⁺ oxide that was recently examined as a possible model compound for the role of Au³⁺ in heterogeneous catalysis. Due to the paucity of thermodynamic data, the energetics of La₄LiAuO₈ and its likely decomposition product, LiLaO₂, were investigated. The ΔH_f-ox, of La₄LiAuO₈ and LaLiO2 are both exothermic at -187.7 ± 5.8 and -41.4 ± 9.6 kJ/mol, respectively. From the thermodynamic data, the decomposition temperature of La₄LiAuO₈ was calculated as either 979 ± 95 or 1331 ± 43 °C for the formation of LiLaO₂ or Li₂O, respectively. Thus, LiLaO₂ is the expected decomposition product.