Sol-Gel Synthesis of High-Purity Actinide Oxide ThO2 and Its Solid Solutions with Technologically Important Tin and Zinc Ions.

Title Sol-Gel Synthesis of High-Purity Actinide Oxide ThO2 and Its Solid Solutions with Technologically Important Tin and Zinc Ions.
Authors V.Kumar Tripathi; R. Nagarajan
Journal Inorg Chem
DOI 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b02086
Abstract

The applicability of epoxide-based sol-gel synthesis for actinide oxide (thoria) starting from air-stable salt, Th(NO3)4, has been examined. The homogeneous gel formed from Th(NO3)4 when calcined at 400 °C yielded nanostructured thoria, and with increasing tempeartures (600, 700, and 800 °C), the average crystallite size increased. Successful Rietveld refinement of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern of ThO2 in Fm3?m space group was carried out with a = 5.6030(35) Å. The fingerprint vibrational mode of the fluorite structure of ThO2 was noticed as a sharp band in the Raman spectrum at 457 cm(-1). In the SEM image, a near spherical morphology of thoria was noticed. Samples showed blue emission on exciting with ? = 380 nm in the photoluminescence spectrum indicative of the presence of defects. Following this approach, 50 mol % of Sn(4+) could be substituted for Th(4+), retaining the fluorite structure as evidenced by the PXRD, Raman spectroscopy, electron microscopy, EDAX, and XPS measurements. Randomization of the lattice was observed for the tin-substituted samples. A significant blue shift in the absorption threshold along with a persistent blue emission in the photoluminesence spectra were evident for the tin-substituted samples. The concentration of Zn(2+) ion in thoria was limited to 15 mol % as revealed by PXRD and XPS measurements. The Raman peak shifted to higher values for Zn(2+)-substituted samples. A change in the optical absorbance characteristics was observed for the zinc-substituted thoria. A 50 mol % Sn(4+)-substituted thoria degraded aqueous Rhodamine 6G dye solutions in the presence of UV-vis radiation following pseudo-first-order kinetics.

Citation V.Kumar Tripathi; R. Nagarajan.Sol-Gel Synthesis of High-Purity Actinide Oxide ThO2 and Its Solid Solutions with Technologically Important Tin and Zinc Ions.. Inorg Chem. 2016;55(24):1279812806. doi:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b02086

Related Elements

Tin

50 Sn 118.710000000 Tin

Tin Bohr ModelSee more Tin products. Tin (atomic symbol: Sn, atomic number: 50) is a Block P, Group 14, Period 5 element with an atomic weight of 118.710. The number of electrons in each of tin's shells is 2, 8, 18, 18, 4 and its electron configuration is [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p2. The tin atom has a radius of 140.5 pm and a Van der Waals radius of 217 pm.In its elemental form, tin has a silvery-gray metallic appearance. It is malleable, ductile and highly crystalline. High Purity (99.9999%) Tin (Sn) MetalTin has nine stable isotopes and 18 unstable isotopes. Under 3.72 degrees Kelvin, Tin becomes a superconductor. Applications for tin include soldering, plating, and such alloys as pewter. The first uses of tin can be dated to the Bronze Age around 3000 BC in which tin and copper were combined to make the alloy bronze. The origin of the word tin comes from the Latin word Stannum which translates to the Anglo-Saxon word tin. For more information on tin, including properties, safety data, research, and American Elements' catalog of tin products, visit the Tin element page.

Zinc

30 Zn 65.380000000 Zinc

See more Zinc products. Zinc (atomic symbol: Zn, atomic number: 30) is a Block D, Group 12, Period 4 element with an atomic weight of 65.38. The number of electrons in each of zinc's shells is 2, 8, 18, 2, and its electron configuration is [Ar] 3d10 4s2. Zinc Bohr ModelThe zinc atom has a radius of 134 pm and a Van der Waals radius of 210 pm. Zinc was discovered by Indian metallurgists prior to 1000 BC and first recognized as a unique element by Rasaratna Samuccaya in 800. Zinc was first isolated by Andreas Marggraf in 1746. In its elemental form, zinc has a silver-gray appearance. It is brittle at ordinary temperatures but malleable at 100 °C to 150 °C.Elemental Zinc It is a fair conductor of electricity, and burns in air at high red producing white clouds of the oxide. Zinc is mined from sulfidic ore deposits. It is the 24th most abundant element in the earth's crust and the fourth most common metal in use (after iron, aluminum, and copper). The name zinc originates from the German word "zin," meaning tin.

Related Forms & Applications

Oxides
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