Probing actinide electronic structure using fluorescence and multi-photon ionization spectroscopy

The role of the 5f orbitals in actinide bond formation is one of the central issues of actinide chemistry. This question can be explored using relativistic quantum chemistry calculations, but the theoretical methods must be validated using definitive experimental data. For simple ionic compounds such as actinide oxides and halides, the electronic structure can be examined using electronic and photoelectron spectroscopy of gas phase molecules. The present article surveys recent spectroscopic and theoretical studies of the oxides of thorium and uranium. The results show that the 5f-like states are spectators and that the complex patterns of low-lying electronic states for these molecules can be understood in terms of a semi-empirical ligand field model. Comparisons with recent high-level theoretical calculations are presented and discussed.     

Recent developments in computational actinide chemistry

This review describes recent computational investigations into the electronic and geometric structures of molecular actinide compounds. Following brief introductions to (i) the effects of relativity in chemistry and (ii) ab initio and density functional quantum chemical methods, four areas of contemporary research are discussed. These are pi backbonding in uranium complexes, the geometric structures of bis benzene actinide compounds, the valence electronic structure of the uranyl ion, and the inverse trans influence in pseudo-octahedral [AnOX5]n-. Comparisons are made with experimental studies, and similarities and differences between d- and f-block chemistry are highlighted.     

Probing Ni[S2PR2]2 electronic structure to generate insight relevant to minor actinide extraction chemistry

A method to evaluate the electronic structure of minor actinide extractants is described. A series of compounds containing effective and ineffective actinide extractants (dithiophosphinates, S(2)PR(2)(-)) bound to a common transition metal ion (Ni(2+)) was analyzed by structural, spectroscopic, and theoretical methods. By using a single transition metal that provides structurally similar compounds, the metal contributions to bonding are essentially held constant so that subtle electronic variations associated with the extracting ligand can be probed using UV-vis spectroscopy. By comparison, it is difficult to obtain similar information using analogous techniques with minor actinide and lanthanide complexes. Here, we demonstrate that this approach, supplemented with ground state and time-dependent density functional theory, provides insight for understanding why high separation factors are reported for the extractant HS(2)P(o-CF(3)C(6)H(4))(2), while lower values are reported and anticipated for other HS(2)PR(2) derivatives (R = C(6)H(5), p-CF(3)C(6)H(4), m-CF(3)C(6)H(4)). The implications of these results for correlating electronic structure with the selectivity of HS(2)PR(2) extractants are discussed.     

Study of the An–Cl bond contraction in actinide trichlorides

The variation of the An–Cl bond distance in ground-state actinide trichloride (AnCl₃) molecules has been studied by density functional theory calculations using the B3LYP exchange–correlation functional in conjunction with small-core relativistic energy-consistent pseudopotentials for the actinides. The ground electronic states and the ground-state molecular properties of the trichlorides of heavy actinides (An = Bk–Lr) are reported in this paper the first time. Extending the present results with literature data on the light actinide trichlorides (AnCl₃, An = Th–Cm), the trend in the bond distance has been evaluated for the whole actinide row. The contraction is well manifested in the major part of the actinide row (An = U–Fm). The deviations at the beginning (Th, Pa) and end of the row (Md, No) have been explained by minor differences in the bonding interactions.     

Electronic structure and bonding in actinyl ions and their analogs

This Feature Article seeks to present the current state of knowledge, both experimental and theoretical, of the electronic structure and bonding in actinyl ions and related species, such as the isoelectronic imido compounds as well as in linear triatomic actinide molecules of the type X-An-Y.     

采用12种密度泛函理论方法表征三种三价铀复合物

比较了BP86、PBE、B3LYP、B3PW91、BHandHLYP、PBE0、X3LYP、CAM-B3LYP、TPSS、M06L、M06和M06-2X等12种采用了广义梯度近似(GGA、hybrid GGA、meta-GGA和hybrid meta-GGA)的密度泛函理论(DFT)方法在三个三价铀复合物表征中的应用. 研究模型采用铀复合物催化CO₂和CS₂官能团化反应中的三个中间体(Tp^*)₂U- η¹-CH₂Ph (Cpd2), (Tp^*)₂U- κ²-O₂CCH₂Ph (Cpd3) 和(Tp^*)₂U- κ²-S₂CCH₂Ph (Cpd4). 研究发现, B3LYP 和B3PW91 在几何结构和电子结构方面优于其它方法. 基于分子轨道理论的MP2 方法在Cpd2 和Cpd3 的表征中给出与DFT方法相近的结果, 而在Cpd4 的表征中表现出较大的差异. 这可能是由于同样是单参考态方法的MP2捕捉到了与DFT方法不同的电子结构. 同时, 通过对比分别采用小核赝势(5f-in-valence)和大核赝势(5f-in-core)基组处理铀原子的计算结果, 发现对测试的模型体系, 两种处理方法可获得相近的热力学能量. 与以往主要关注高价态锕系复合物的处理方法的评估工作不同, 本项工作适应逐渐增加的对低价态锕系分子体系的研究的需求, 对12 种常用的密度泛函理论方法在低价态锕系复合物研究中的应用进行了评估, 期望为处理类似体系的研究工作提供参考.     

Recent Progresses in the Investigation of Rare-earth Boron Inverse Sandwich Clusters

While rare-earth borides represent a class of important materials in modern industries, there are few fundamental researches on their electronic structures and physicochemical properties. Recently, we have performed combined experimental and theoretical studies on rare-earth boron clusters and their cluster-assembled complexes, revealing a series of rare-earth inverse sandwich clusters with fascinating electronic structures and chemical bonding patterns. In this overview article, we summarize recent progresses in this area and provide a perspective view on the future development of rare-earth boride clusters. Understanding the electronic structures of these clusters helps to design materials of f-element(lanthanide and actinide) borides with critical physiochemical properties.     

Spectroscopic Determination of the Electronic Structure of a Uranium Single-Ion Magnet

Early actinide ions have large spin-orbit couplings and crystal field interactions, leading to large anisotropies. The success in using actinides as single-molecule magnets has so far been modest, underlining the need for rational strategies. Indeed, the electronic structure of actinide single-molecule magnets and its relation to their magnetic properties remains largely unexplored. A uranium(III) single-molecule magnet, [U^III{SiMe₂NPh}₃-tacn)(OPPh₃)] (tacn=1,4,7-triazacyclononane), has been investigated by means of a combination of magnetic, spectroscopic and theoretical methods to elucidate the origin of its static and dynamic magnetic properties.     

Energy decomposition analysis of metal-metal bonding in [M2X8]2- (X=Cl, br) complexes of 5f (U, Np, Pu), 5d (W, Re, Os), and 4d (Mo, Tc, Ru) elements

The electronic structures of a series of [M2X8]2- (X=Cl, Br) complexes involving 5f (U, Np, Pu), 5d (W, Re, Os), and 4d (Mo, Tc, Ru) elements have been calculated using density functional theory, and an energy decomposition approach has been used to carry out a detailed analysis of the metal-metal interactions. The energy decomposition analysis involves contributions from orbital interactions (mixing of occupied and unoccupied orbitals), electrostatic effects (Coulombic attraction and repulsion), and Pauli repulsion (associated with four-electron two-orbital interactions). As previously observed for Mo, W, and U M2X6 species, the general results suggest that the overall metal-metal interaction is considerably weaker or unfavorable in the actinide systems relative to the d-block analogues, as a consequence of a significantly more destabilizing contribution from the combined Pauli and electrostatic (prerelaxation) effects. Although the orbital-mixing (postrelaxation) contribution to the total bonding energy is predicted to be larger in the actinide complexes, this is not sufficiently strong to compensate for the comparatively greater destabilization originating from the Pauli-plus-electrostatic effects. A generally weak electrostatic contribution accounts for the large prerelaxation destabilization in the f-block systems, and ultimately for the weak or unfavorable nature of metal-metal bonding between the actinide elements. There is a greater variation in the energy decomposition results across the [M2Cl8]2- series for the actinide than for the d-block elements, both in the general behavior and in some particular properties.     

Reactions of Th and U atoms with C2H2: infrared spectra and relativistic calculations of the metallacyclopropene, actinide insertion, and ethynyl products

Reactions of laser-ablated Th and U atoms with C(2)H(2) during condensation with excess argon at 7 K give several new product species. The metallacyclopropene, inserted hydride, and actinide ethynyl are identified from isotopic frequencies and relativistic DFT calculations. The higher-energy vinylidine isomer was not observed. These actinide metallacyclopropenes exhibit substantially stronger bonding interactions than found recently for the Pd and Pt metals. In the case of Th(C(2)H(2)) the argon matrix interaction is strong enough to reverse the computed order of states (MR-CISD) in favor of a triplet ground state for the (Ar)(n)(Th(C(2)H(2))) complex. The nature of the electronic interactions between various metal atoms and acetylene is compared and the origin of the particularly strong interaction for U and Th is traced to the higher energy of their 6d orbitals. The ThCCH and UCCH actinide ethynyl products are also observed and characterized by C[triple bond]C stretching modes 38+/-2 cm(-1) lower than acetylene itself.     

锕酰冠醚配合物电子结构和化学成键理论研究进展

本文对锕系化合物的结构和性质的理论研究进行了规律性总结,并结合我们的研究成果,重点介绍了锕酰冠醚配合物的配位化学、电子结构和化学成键的基本特征。尽管近年来出现越来越多的光谱实验和晶体学数据报道,但是对锕系配合物的电子结构和化学成键的理论研究还不够系统。本文对锕酰冠醚配合物的配位结构、稳定能和光谱性质的计算结果进行了综述。大环配体(硫代)冠醚的腔体大小决定了配合物的结构特征。通过理论研究,在锕酰冠醚配合物中存在具有典型的An≡Oactinyl共价键和An-Oligand和An-Sligand离子键。对于离子键An-Oligand和An-Sligand,An和供电子配体之间通过价原子轨道的径向分布重叠形成微弱的共价相互作用。从U到Cm,配体向金属的电荷转移(LMCT)逐渐显著,导致Am和Cm的氧化态降低,金属离子与配体的作用变弱。这一成键规律和金属氧化态的变化规律,为实验上筛选合理且高效的镧锕分离配体提供重要理论指导。     

Importance of energy level matching for bonding in Th(3+)-Am(3+) actinide metallocene amidinates, (C(5)Me(5))(2)[(i)PrNC(Me)N(i)Pr]An

The synthesis of a rare trivalent Th(3+) complex, (C(5)Me(5))(2)[(i)PrNC(Me)N(i)Pr]Th, initiated a density functional theory analysis on the electronic and molecular structures of trivalent actinide complexes of this type for An = Th, Pa, U, Np, Pu, and Am. While the 6d orbital is found to accommodate the unpaired spin in the Th(3+) species, the next member of the series, Pa, is characterized by an f(2) ground state, and later actinides successively fill the 5f shell. In this report, we principally examine the evolution of the bonding as one advances along the actinide row. We find that the early actinides (Pa-Np) are characterized by localized f orbitals and essentially ionic bonding, whereas the f orbitals in the later members of the series (Pu, Am) exhibit significant interaction and spin delocalization into the carbon- and nitrogen-based ligand orbitals. This is perhaps counter-intuitive since the f orbital radius and hence metal-ligand overlap decreases with increasing Z, but this trend is counter-acted by the fact that the actinide contraction also leads to a stabilization of the f orbital manifold that leads to a near degeneracy between the An 5f and cyclopentadienyl π-orbitals for Pu and Am, causing a significant orbital interaction.     

配位化学中新型金属配合物的电子结构与成键特点

研究配合物的几何电子构型、阐明配位键的本质是配位化学中重要的理论组成部分。本文在回顾配位化学基本的成键理论基础上,介绍几例近年来具有教科书级别的国内高水平原创工作,重点阐述具有独特芳香性、低氧化态、高配位数以及锕系金属的新型金属配合物的电子结构和成键特点,对丰富和拓展配位化学的基本理论具有重要意义。     

Theoretical study of bond distances and dissociation energies of actinide oxides AnO and AnO2

In the present study we evaluated trends in the bond distances and dissociation enthalpies of actinide oxides AnO and AnO(2) (An = Th-Lr) on the basis of consistent computed data obtained by using density functional theory in conjunction with relativistic small-core pseudopotentials. Computations were carried out on AnO (An = Th-Lr) and AnO(2) (An = Np, Pu, Bk-Lr) species, while for the remaining AnO(2) species recent literature data (Theor. Chem. Acc. 2011, 129, 657) were utilized. The most important computed properties include the geometries, vibrational frequencies, dissociation enthalpies, and several excited electronic states. These molecular properties of the late actinide oxides (An = Bk-No) are reported here for the first time. We present detailed analyses of the bond distances, covalent bonding properties, and dissociation enthalpies.     

Lattice defects and magnetic ordering in plutonium oxides: a hybrid density-functional-theory study of strongly correlated materials

Experimental studies of actinide oxides are challenging, and conventional electronic structure calculations fail to qualitatively reproduce the scarce data. We employ a new generation of hybrid density functionals to model a defective plutonium dioxide lattice. The procedure is first tested against stoichiometric bulk PuO2 and Pu2O3, for which predictions agree well with experiment where known. The interstitial oxygen in PuO2.25 is found to be singly charged, consistent with experimental observations and contrary to the O2- previously proposed theoretically.     

4f-5f heterotrimetallic complexes exhibiting electrochemical and magnetic communication

Novel 4f-5f complexes of U(IV) and Th(IV) with Yb have been prepared using a terpyridyl-functionalized ketimide linking group. These 4f-5f heterotrimetallic complexes (C5Me5)2An[-N=C(CH2C6H5)(tpyYb(C5Me5)2)]2 (where An = Th, U) exist in Yb(II/III) valence equilibria and exhibit rich electrochemical behavior consistent with electronic coupling between the actinide and Yb(II/III)tpy*- moieties. The magnetic response of the uranium complex, studied qualitatively using a subtraction method, is indicative of a coupled magnetic state between the U(IV) and Yb(III)tpy*- groups at low temperatures. Both the electrochemical and magnetic data are in agreement and are consistent with differences in participation of the actinide valence orbitals in the ketimide bonding.     

Application of Pitzer's Equations for Modeling the Aqueous Thermodynamics of Actinide Species in Natural Waters: A Review

A review of the applicability of Pitzer's equations to the aqueous thermodynamics of actinide species in natural waters is presented. This review includes a brief historical perspective on the application of Pitzer's equations to actinides, information on the difficulties and complexities of studying and modeling the different actinide oxidation states, and a discussion of the use of chemical analogs for different actinide oxidation states. Included are tables of Pitzer ion–interaction parameters and associated standard state equilibrium constants for each actinide oxidation state. These data allow the modeling of the aqueous thermodynamics of different actinide oxidation states to high ionic strength.     

典型锕系超分子组装体的构筑原理及研究进展

锕系超分子化学是锕系元素化学的重要研究领域,可以为乏燃料后处理的配位化学基础研究提供重要信息,并为探索锕系功能材料在发光、传感、催化和分离等方面的功能应用提供关键材料体系。本文介绍了基于锕系金属离子的金属-有机超分子组装体这一新兴领域的最新研究进展。从锕系超分子组装体的构筑原理出发并结合笔者自身研究情况,对基于主客体准轮烷配体的锕系-轮烷配位聚合物、具有闭合结构的锕系配位组装体和基于超分子相互作用的锕系超分子聚合物这三类典型的锕系超分子组装体的研究进展进行了梳理和总结阐述。期望为未来新型锕系超分子组装体的设计合成提供参考,促进相关领域的进步和发展。     

负离子光电子能谱技术发展及应用

负离子光电子能谱已经成为探索光谱和化学动力学基础问题的最为重要的技术之一。本文简要介绍了负离子光电子能谱的发展历史,回顾了负离子光电子能谱发展过程中的几种主要技术,包括为了提高分辨率而开发出的零动能能谱和慢电子速度成像技术以及为在气相条件下研究多电荷负离子及其对应中性分子电子特性而开发的电喷雾源与负离子光电子能谱结合的技术。随后介绍其在锕系元素及化合物、含铍化合物的电子结构及成键特征研究中的应用及进展。     

Fundamental Research on Actinide Materials for Sustainable Fuel Cycles in JAEA

The fundamental research on actinide materials has been carried out in order to contribute to the development of future nuclear fuel cycle and actinide science database. Among actinide materials, the R&D has been focused on Pu and minor actinide (MA; Np, Am, Cm) bearing compounds. The chemical forms of actinide compounds concerned include oxides, nitrides, chlorides and alloys, which are prepared, characterized and subjected to property measurements. In this paper those results on Pu and MA bearing oxides obtained in recent several years are summarized. In addition, the possible challenges of actinide materials research to the subjects of post severe accident of Fukushima-daiich nuclear power station are briefly discussed.