Murielle Rivenet

X-Ray Diffraction and μ-Raman Investigation of the Monoclinic-Orthorhombic Phase Transition in Th1−xUx(C2O4)2·2H2O Solid Solutions

A complete Th(1-x)U(x)(C(2)O(4))(2).2H(2)O solid solution was prepared by mild hydrothermal synthesis from a mixture of hydrochloric solutions containing cations and oxalic acid. The crystal structure has been solved from twinned single crystals for x = 0, 0.5, and 1 with monoclinic symmetry, space group C2/c, leading to unit cell parameters of a approximately 10.5 A, b approximately 8.5 A, and c approximately 9.6 A. The crystal structure consists of a two-dimensional arrangement of actinide centers connected through bis-bidentate oxalate ions forming squares. The actinide metal is coordinated by eight oxygen atoms from four oxalate entities and two water oxygen atoms forming a bicapped square antiprism. The connection between the layers is assumed by hydrogen bonds between the water molecules and the oxygen of oxalate of an adjacent layer. Under these conditions, the unit cell contains two independent oxalate ions. From high-temperature mu-Raman and X-ray diffraction studies, the compounds were found to undergo a transition to an orthorhombic form (space group Ccca). The major differences in the structural arrangement concern the symmetry of uranium, which decreases from C2 to D2, leading to a unique oxalate group. Consequently, the nu(s)(C-O) double band observed in the Raman spectra recorded at room temperature turned into a singlet. This transformation was then used to make the phase transition temperature more precise as a function of the uranium content of the sample.

Crystal growth and first crystallographic characterization of mixed uranium(IV)-plutonium(III) oxalates.

The mixed-actinide uranium(IV)-plutonium(III) oxalate single crystals (NH4)0.5[Pu(III)0.5U(IV)0.5(C2O4)2·H2O]·nH2O (1) and (NH4)2.7Pu(III)0.7U(IV)1.3(C2O4)5·nH2O (2) have been prepared by the diffusion of different ions through membranes separating compartments of a triple cell. UV-vis, Raman, and thermal ionization mass spectrometry analyses demonstrate the presence of both uranium and plutonium metal cations with conservation of the initial oxidation state, U(IV) and Pu(III), and the formation of mixed-valence, mixed-actinide oxalate compounds. The structure of 1 and an average structure of 2 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and were solved by direct methods and Fourier difference techniques. Compounds 1 and 2 are the first mixed uranium(IV)-plutonium(III) compounds to be structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure of 1, space group P4/n, a = 8.8558(3) Å, b = 7.8963(2) Å, Z = 2, consists of layers formed by four-membered rings of the two actinide metals occupying the same crystallographic site connected through oxalate ions. The actinide atoms are nine-coordinated by oxygen atoms from four bidentate oxalate ligands and one water molecule, which alternates up and down the layer. The single-charged cations and nonbonded water molecules are disordered in the same crystallographic site. For compound 2, an average structure has been determined in space group P6/mmm with a = 11.158(2) Å and c = 6.400(1) Å. The honeycomb-like framework [Pu(III)0.7U(IV)1.3(C2O4)5](2.7-) results from a three-dimensional arrangement of mixed (U0.65Pu0.35)O10 polyhedra connected by five bis-bidentate μ(2)-oxalate ions in a trigonal-bipyramidal configuration.

[Ni(H2O)4]3[U(OH,H2O)(UO2)8O12(OH)3], crystal structure and comparison with uranium minerals with U3O8-type sheets

The new U(VI) compound, [Ni(H{sub 2}O){sub 4}]{sub 3}[U(OH,H{sub 2}O)(UO{sub 2}){sub 8}O{sub 12}(OH){sub 3}], was synthesized by mild hydrothermal reaction of uranyl and nickel nitrates. The crystal-structure was solved in the P-1 space group, a=8.627(2), b=10.566(2), c=12.091(4) A and alpha=110.59(1), beta=102.96(2), gamma=105.50(1){sup o}, R=0.0539 and wR=0.0464 from 3441 unique observed reflections and 151 parameters. The structure of the title compound is built from sheets of uranium polyhedra closely related to that in beta-U{sub 3}O{sub 8}. Within the sheets [(UO{sub 2})(OH)O{sub 4}] pentagonal bipyramids share equatorial edges to form chains, which are cross-linked by [(UO{sub 2})O{sub 4}] and [UO{sub 4}(H{sub 2}O)(OH)] square bipyramids and through hydroxyl groups shared between [(UO{sub 2})(OH)O{sub 4}] pentagonal bipyramids. The sheets are pillared by sharing the apical oxygen atoms of the [(UO{sub 2})(OH)O{sub 4}] pentagonal bipyramids with the oxygen atoms of [NiO{sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 4}] octahedral units. That builds a three-dimensional framework with water molecules pointing towards the channels. On heating [Ni(H{sub 2}O){sub 4}]{sub 3}[U(OH,H{sub 2}O)(UO{sub 2}){sub 8}O{sub 12}(OH){sub 3}] decomposes into NiU{sub 3}O{sub 10}. - Graphical abstract: The framework of [Ni(H{sub 2}O){sub 4}]{sub 3}[U(OH,H{sub 2}O)(UO{sub 2}){sub 8}O{sub 12}(OH){sub 3}] built from uranium polyhedra sheets pillared by Ni-centered octahedra.

Linear Alkyl Diamine-Uranium-Phosphate Systems: U(VI) to U(IV) Reduction with Ethylenediamine

Mild-hydrothermal reactions in acidic medium using 1,3-diaminopropane, 1,4-diaminobutane, and 1,5-diaminopentane as structure directing agents led to three-dimensional (3D) uranyl phosphates (CH₂)₃(NH₃)₂{[(UO₂)(H₂O)][(UO₂)(PO₄)]₄} (C3U5P4), (CH₂)₄(NH₃)₂{[(UO₂)(H₂O)][(UO₂)(PO₄)]₄} (C4U5P4) and (CH₂)5(NH₃)₂{[(UO₂)(H₂O)][(UO₂)(PO₄)]₄} (C5U5P4). The structures of (C4U5P4) and (C5U5P4) were solved in the space group Cmc2₁ using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The compounds are isostructural to the corresponding uranyl vanadates and contain the same 3D inorganic framework built from uranyl-phosphate layers of uranophane-type anion topology pillared by [UO₆(H₂O)] pentagonal bipyramids. In neutral or basic medium the alkyl diamines decompose to give ammonium uranyl phosphate trihydrate. In the same conditions by using ethylenediamine, unexpected reduction of uranium(VI) to uranium(IV) occurs leading to the formation of (CH₂)₂(NH₃)₂[U(PO₄)₂] (C2UP2) single crystals. C2UP2 undergoes a reversible phase transition from triclinic to monoclinic symmetry at about 230 °C. The structure of the two forms results from the stacking of inorganic layers (∞)¹[U(PO₄)₂]²⁻, and organic layers containing ethylene diammonium ions, the two layers being linked by hydrogen bonds. Single crystals of (CH₂)₂(NH₃)₂[PO₃OH] (C2HP) are formed by evaporation of the solution after filtering of C2UP2 single crystals. The structure of C2HP contains infinite (∞)¹[PO₃OH]²⁻ chains connected by (CH₂)₂(NH₃)₂²⁺ ions through hydrogen bonds.

Neodymium uranyl peroxide synthesis by ion exchange on ammonium uranyl peroxide nanoclusters

This study demonstrates the ability of ammonium uranyl peroxide nanoclusters U32R-NH4 to undergo exchange in between NH4(+) and trivalent (Nd(3+)) or tetravalent (Th(4+)) cations in the solid state. It paves the way for new promising routes for the synthesis of mixed uranyl peroxides. The exchange ability may also be considered for solution decontamination and synthesis of new mixed actinide-oxide precursors. Both of these applications could be used in the nuclear industry.

Use of HERFD-XANES at the U L3- and M4-Edges To Determine the Uranium Valence State on [Ni(H2O)4]3[U(OH,H2O)(UO2)8O12(OH)3].

We report and discuss here the unambiguous uranium valence state determination on the complex compound [Ni(H2O)4]3[U(OH,H2O)(UO2)8O12(OH)3] by using high-energy-resolution fluorescence detection-X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy (HERFD-XANES). The spectra at both U L3- and M4-edges confirm that all five nonequivalent U atoms are solely in the hexavalent form in this compound, as previously suggested by bond-valence-sum analysis and X-ray diffraction pattern refinement. Moreover, the presence of the preedge feature, due to the 2p3/2-5f quadrupole transition, has been observed in the U L3-edge HERFD-XANES spectrum, in agreement with theoretical and experimental observations of other uranium-based compounds. Recently, this feature has been proposed as a possible tool to determine the uranium oxidation state in a manner similar to that of 3d and 4d metals. Nevertheless, this feature is also very sensitive to the uranium local environment, as revealed by our theoretical calculations, and consequently could not be used to attribute without ambiguity the uranium valence state. In contrast, U M4-edge HERFD-XANES appears to be the most straightforward and reliable way to assess the uranium valence state in very complex materials such as [Ni(H2O)4]3[U(OH,H2O)(UO2)8O12(OH)3] or a mixture of compounds.

Coordination Modes of Americium in the Am2(C2O4)3(H2O)6·4H2O Oxalate: Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Spectroscopic Characterizations and Comparison in the M2(C2O4)3(H2O)6·nH2O (M = Ln, An) Series

Americium oxalate single crystals, Am2(C2O4)3(H2O)6·4H2O, were prepared by in situ oxalic acid generation by slow hydrolysis of the diester. Their structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and was solved by the direct methods and Fourier difference techniques. The structure (space group P21/c, a = 11.184(4) Å, b = 9.489(4) Å, c = 10.234(4) Å, β = 114.308(8)°, Z = 2) consists of layers formed by six-membered rings of actinide metals connected through oxalate ions. The americium atoms are nine-coordinated by six oxygen atoms from three bidentate oxalate ligands and three water molecules. The distances within the coordination sphere as well as infrared and Raman spectra of several isostructural lanthanide (Ce(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), Gd(III)) and actinide (Pu(III), Am(III)) oxalates were compared to evaluate the similarities and the differences between the two series.

U(VI) oxygen polyhedra as pillars for building frameworks from uranophane-type layers

Solid state chemistry of uranyl-containing inorganic compounds has been enriched recently by a multiplication of papers dealing with two and three dimensional inorganic materials. This paper is a review of the compounds structurally based on uranophane–type layers in uranyl silicates, phosphates, arsenates and vanadates systems. Depending on the nature and size of the metallic or organic cation used as charge compensators or structure directing agents, various geometric isomers are obtained and described herein. The cations occupy either the interlayer space between uranophane-type sheets or different types of cavities created by a three dimensional inorganic framework built from uranophane layers pillared by U(VI) and oxygen polyhedra. The number of UO6 or UO7 pillars by [(UO2)(XO4)] structural block units of the layer give a series of compounds with the following general formula A2y/n{(UO2)1−y[(UO2)(XO4)]2} with y=0,1/3,1/2 and 1.

Hydrazinium lanthanide oxalates: synthesis, structure and thermal reactivity of N2H5[Ln2(C2O4)4(N2H5)]·4H2O, Ln = Ce, Nd.

New hydrazinium lanthanide oxalates N2H5[Ln2(C2O4)4(N2H5)]·4H2O, Ln = Ce (Ce-HyOx) and Nd (Nd-HyOx), were synthesized by hydrothermal reaction at 150 °C between lanthanide nitrate, oxalic acid and hydrazine solutions. The structure of the Nd compound was determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data, space group P2₁/c with a = 16.315(4), b = 12.127(3), c = 11.430(2) Å, β = 116.638(4)°, V = 2021.4(7) Å(3), Z = 4, and R1 = 0.0313 for 4231 independent reflections. Two distinct neodymium polyhedra are formed, NdO9 and NdO8N, an oxygen of one monodentate oxalate in the former being replaced by a nitrogen atom of a coordinated hydrazinium ion in the latter. The infrared absorption band at 1005 cm(-1) confirms the coordination of N2H5(+) to the metal. These polyhedra are connected through μ2 and μ3 oxalate ions to form an anionic three-dimensional neodymium-oxalate arrangement. A non-coordinated charge-compensating hydrazinium ion occupies, with water molecules, the resulting tunnels. The N-N stretching frequencies of the infrared spectra demonstrate the existence of the two types of hydrazine ions. Thermal reactivity of these hydrazinium oxalates and of the mixed isotypic Ce/Nd (CeNd-HyOx) oxalate were studied by using thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses coupled with gas analyzers, and high temperature X-ray diffraction. Under air, fine particles of CeO2 and Ce(0.5)Nd(0.5)O(1.75) are formed at low temperature from Ce-HyOx and CeNd-HyOx, respectively, thanks to a decomposition/oxidation process. Under argon flow, dioxymonocyanamides Ln2O2CN2 are formed.