3 research outputs found
Recommended from our members
Transuranic actinide reactions with simple gas-phase molecules.
The intent of this research is to conduct an experimental study of f-element chemistry fo r the purpose of identifying reaction trends and mechanisms of the early actinide metals with simple gas phase molecules . Previous research has elucidated some of the fundamenta l chemistry of the 4f elements,1-5 however, more complex chemistry is expected for the 5f serie s due to the inclusion of the 5f electrons in the valence shell . The matrix isolation approach, which is well-suited to the experimental study of transient species, will be used for sample collection, and IR/NIR/VIS spectroscopy will be employed to interrogate deposited matrices . The strength of this method lies in the use of isotopes of reactants, which permits the identification of guest molecules in a noble gas matrix by observation of vibrational frequenc y shifts and patterns upon isotopic substitution . Using this technique at the University of Virginia, the first noble gas-actinide bond has recently been identified, a weak U-Ar bond on the CUO molecule.6 Uranium has similarly been observed to bond to krypton and xenon, whereas thoriu m and the lanthanides have not exhibited this activity . It is expected that plutonium will be even more reactive in this respect . We will extend the body of actinide experimental evidence t o include the transuranic elements neptunium, plutonium, and americium reacted with isotopes o f oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide