Application of multi-edge HERFD-XAS to assess the uranium valence electronic structure in potassium uranate (KUO3)

The uranium valence electronic structure in the prototypical undistorted perovskite KUO3 is reported on the basis of a comprehensive experimental study using multi-edge HERFD-XAS and relativistic quantum chemistry calculations based on density functional theory. Very good agreement is obtained between theory and experiments, including the confirmation of previously reported Laporte forbidden f –f transitions and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic measurements. Many spectral features are clearly identified in the probed U-f, U- p and U-d states and the contribution of the O-p states in those features could be assessed. The octahedral crystal field strength, 10Dq, was found to be 6.6 (1.5) eV and 6.9 (4) eV from experiment and calculations, respectively. Calculated electron binding energies down to U-4f states are also reported.Peer reviewe

Effect of carbon content on electronic structure of uranium carbides

The electronic structure of UC$_x$ (x = 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 2.0) was studied by means of x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at the C K edge and measurements in the high energy resolution fluorescence detection (HERFD) mode at the U M$_4$ and L$_3$ edges. The full-relativistic density functional theory calculations taking into account the Coulomb interaction U and spin-orbit coupling (DFT+U+SOC) were also performed for UC and UC$_2$. While the U M$_4$HERFD-XAS spectra of the studied samples reveal little difference, the U HERFD-XAS spectra show certain sensitivity to the varying carbon content in uranium carbides. The observed gradual changes in the U M$_4$ HERFD spectra suggest an increase in the C 2p-U 5f charge transfer, which is supported by the orbital population analysis in the DFT+U+SOC calculations, indicating an increase in the U 5f occupancy in UC as compared to that in UC. On the other hand, the density of states at the Fermi level were found to be significantly lower in UC$_2$, thus affecting the thermodynamic properties. Both the x-ray spectroscopic data (in particular, the C K XAS measurements) and results of the DFT+U+SOC calculations indicate the importance of taking into account U and SOC for the description of the electronic structure of actinide carbides

Insight into the structure-property relationship of UO2_{2} nanoparticles

Highly crystalline UO$_{2}$ nanoparticles (NPs) with sizes of 2–3 nm were produced by fast chemical deposition of uranium(IV) under reducing conditions at pH 8–11. The particles were then characterized by microscopy and spectroscopy techniques including high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-energy resolution fluorescence detection (HERFD) X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the U M$_{4}$ edge and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy at the U L$_{3}$ edge. The results of this investigation show that despite U(IV) being the dominant oxidation state of the freshly prepared UO$_{2}$ NPs, they oxidize to U$_{4}$O$_{9}$ with time and under the X-ray beam, indicating the high reactivity of U(IV) under these conditions. Moreover, it was found that the oxidation process of NPs is accompanied by their growth in size to 6 nm. We highlight here the major differences and similarities of the UO$_{2}$ NP properties to PuO$_{2}$, ThO$_{2}$ and CeO$_{2}$ NPs

Signatures of technetium oxidation states: a new approach

A general strategy for the determination of Tc oxidation state by new approach involving X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) at the Tc L-3 edge is shown. A comprehensive series of Tc-99 compounds, ranging from oxidation states I to VII, was measured and subsequently simulated within the framework of crystal-field multiplet theory. The observable trends in the absorption edge energy shift in combination with the spectral shape allow for a deeper understanding of complicated Tc coordination chemistry. This approach can be extended to numerous studies of Tc systems as this method is one of the most sensitive methods for accurate Tc oxidation state and ligand characterization

High-energy resolution X-ray spectroscopy at actinide M-4,M-5 and ligand K edges : what we know, what we want to know, and what we can know

In recent years, scientists have progressively recognized the role of electronic structures in the characterization of chemical properties for actinide containing materials. High-energy resolution X-ray spectroscopy at the actinide M-4,M-5 edges emerged as a promising direction because this method can probe actinide properties at the atomic level through the possibility of reducing the experimental spectral width below the natural core-hole lifetime broadening. Parallel to the technical developments of the X-ray method and experimental discoveries, theoretical models, describing the observed electronic structure phenomena, have also advanced. In this feature article, we describe the latest progress in the field of high-energy resolution X-ray spectroscopy at the actinide M-4,M-5 and ligand K edges and we show that the methods are able to (a) provide fingerprint information on the actinide oxidation state and ground state characters (b) probe 5f occupancy, non-stoichiometry, defects, and ligand/metal ratio and (c) investigate the local symmetry and effects of the crystal field. We discuss the chemical aspects of the electronic structure in terms familiar to chemists and materials scientists and conclude with a brief description of new opportunities and approaches to improve the experimental methodology and theoretical analysis for f-electron systems

Invisible structures in the X-ray absorption spectra of actinides

The X-ray absorption spectra of actinides are discussed with an emphasis on the fundamental effects that influence their spectral shape, including atomic multiplet theory, charge transfer theory and crystal field theory. Many actinide spectra consist of a single peak and it is shown that the use of resonant inelastic X-ray emission spectra (RIXS) has the potential to reveal many new features in the X-ray absorption spectra of actinides. The new range of RIXS beamlines will allow the determination of new structures in the X-ray absorption spectra that have been hitherto invisible. This has the potential to become an important tool in the determination of the electronic structure of actinides

State of Ag in Pyrrhotite: Insights from X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Ag-bearing pyrrhotites Fe1-xS were synthesized by using the salt flux technique. The concentration of Ag in pyrrhotite reached 0.08 wt % at 540 °C and 1.3 wt % at 750-760 °C. The synthesized samples are divided into two groups according to the values of sulfur fugacity in the experimental system and the content of Fe (CFe) in pyrrhotite. In group (i) at low sulfur fugacity (log f(S2) ≈ −6.5, CFe > 48.8 at. %), Ag is disseminated in pyrrhotites in an “invisible” form but mostly concentrates on the grain boundaries of crystals as metallic rims. In group (ii) at high sulfur fugacity (log f(S2) ≈ −1.0, CFe < 48.8 at. %), Ag occurs as an invisible form disseminated in the pyrrhotite matrix together with the minor form of Ag-bearing submicron inclusions. Analysis of Ag K-edge XAS spectra recorded at ambient temperature revealed that the samples of group (i) contain a small fraction of the invisible Ag+ form, while the majority of Ag presents in pyrrhotite crystals as Ag°. The samples of group (ii) at a temperature of 750 °C contain the invisible form of Ag-Ag2+S-like clusters. The decrease in temperature leads to the partial decomposition of the invisible form and the appearance of the second (minor) form, Ag-bearing submicron inclusions. The predicted concentrations of Ag in pyrrhotite coincide with those from natural samples of various origins