A new, relatively fast and simple synthesis of the refractory sulfide CeS using\ud
electron beam irradiation has been developed. Differently from the most common\ud
procedures involving highly reactive and/or toxic precursors such as cerium\ud
hydride and carbon disulfide, the approach here presented is based on the electron\ud
beam irradiation of pellets composed of a mixture of cerium sesquisulfide, cerium\ud
dioxide and graphite powders, i.e., nontoxic and nonreactive materials in ambient\ud
conditions that do not need any special caution during their use. CeS with a purity\ud
≥98 wt% has been obtained, being Ce2O2S the impurity and whose amount\ud
can be lowered by annealing on a graphite surface