Evolution of the Uranium Chemical State in Mixed-Valence Oxides

Gregory Leinders, Rene Bes, Janne Pakarinen, Kristina Kvashnina, Marc Verwerft

    Research outputpeer-review

    Abstract

    A fundamental question concerning the chemical state of uranium in the binary oxides UO2, U4O9, U3O7, U3O8 and UO3 is addressed. By utilizing high energy resolution fluorescence detection X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (HERFD-XANES) at the urani-um M4 edge, a novel technique in the tender X-ray region, we obtain the distribution of formal oxidation states in the mixed-valence oxides U4O9, U3O7 and U3O8. Moreover, we clearly identi-fy a pivot from U(IV)-U(V) to U(V)-U(VI) charge compensation, corresponding with transition from a fluorite-type structure (U3O7) to a layered structure (U3O8). Such physicochemical properties are of interest to a broad audience of researchers and engineers active in domains ranging from fundamental physics, to nuclear industry and environmental science.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)6784-6787
    JournalInorganic Chemistry
    Volume56
    Issue number12
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 19 Jun 2017

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