Crystal chemistry,magnetic, and electrical properties of the tetragonal plutonium oxide telluride Pu2O2Te

We describe the preparation and some physical properties of Pu₂O₂Te. The plutonium oxide telluride is isostructural with the corresponding rare-earth oxide tellurides which crystallize in the tetragonal system of La₂O₂Te-type. Magnetic susceptibility data from 4 K to room temperature are reported together with resistivity measurements. Pu₂O₂Te is found to be an antiferromagnet below 56 K and a semiconductor with an intrinsic energy gap of 0.65 eV. The magnetic behavior is interpreted in terms of superexchange coupling interactions via nonmetal p orbitals, i.e., in terms of 5f-p overlaps. This conclusion is supported by crystal chemistry considerations by comparison of cell volumes of Pu₂O₂Te and Nd₂O₂Te. In Pu₂O₂Te, the Pu crystal radius is found to be much lower than that of Nd in Nd₂O₂Te, suggesting some 5f electron “delocalization” leading to a crystal radius shrinkage. As for the hexagonal Pu₂O₂X compounds, with X = O, S, Se, the measured gap may be considered as the energy separation between the chalcogen np band and the 6d-7s conduction band, the occupied 5f states lying just below the np band with some 5f-np overlap.