Effect of pH and Reaction Time on the Structures of Early Lanthanide(III) Borate Perchlorates

Effect of Reaction Time on Lanthanide Borate Perrhenate Complexes

Six new trivalent lanthanide borate perrhenate structures─the isostructural series Ln[B₈O₁₁(OH)₄(H₂O)(ReO₄)] (Ln = Ce-Nd, Sm, Eu; 1) and La[B₆O₉(OH)₂(H₂O)(ReO₄)] (2)─have been prepared and structurally characterized. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that both structures crystallize in the P2₁/n space group, contain 10-coordinated trivalent lanthanides in a capped triangular cupola geometry, are 3D borate framework materials, and contain either terminal (1) or bridging (2) perrhenate moieties. The presence or lack of a bridging perrhenate, along with the identity of the basal ligands, dictates how the layers are tethered together, ultimately leading to the different structures. Furthermore, the formation of 1 is sensitive to the reaction time employed. Herein, the synthesis, structural descriptions, and spectroscopy of these trivalent lanthanide perrhenate borate complexes are presented.

Origins of the odd optical observables in plutonium and americium tungstates

A series of f-block tungstates show atypical coloration for both the Ce(iii) and Pu(iii) compounds; whereas the other lanthanide and Am(iii) compounds possess normal absorption features. The different optical properties are actually derived from the tungstate component rather than from 5f electrons/orbitals.

A series of trivalent f-block tungstates, MW₂O₇(OH)(H₂O) (M = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, and Pu) and AmWO₄(OH), have been prepared in crystalline form using hydrothermal methods. Both structure types take the form of 3D networks where MW₂O₇(OH)(H₂O) is assembled from infinite chains of distorted tungstate octahedra linked by isolated MO₈ bicapped trigonal prisms; whereas AmWO₄(OH) is constructed from edge-sharing AmO₈ square antiprisms connected by distorted tungstate trigonal bipyramids. PuW₂O₇(OH)(H₂O) crystallizes as red plates; an atypical color for a Pu(iii) compound. Optical absorption spectra acquired from single crystals show strong, broadband absorption in the visible region. A similar feature is observed for CeW₂O₇(OH)(H₂O), but not for AmWO₄(OH). Here we demonstrate that these significantly different optical properties do not stem directly from the 5f electrons, as in both systems the valence band has mostly O-2p character and the conduction band has mostly W-5d character. Furthermore, the quasi-particle gap is essentially unaffected by the 5f degrees of freedom. Despite this, our analysis demonstrates that the f-electron covalency effects are quite important and substantially different energetically in PuW₂O₇(OH)(H₂O) and AmWO₄(OH), indicating that the optical gap alone cannot be used to infer conclusions concerning the f electron contribution to the chemical bond in these systems.

Highly pH-dependent synthesis of two novel three-dimensional dysprosium complexes with interesting magnetic and luminescence properties

Two unprecedented Dy-MOFs with interesting magnetic and luminescence properties were obtained using identical starting materials and method but at different pH values.

A facile strategy to adjust the density of planar triangle units in lead borate–nitrates

Three novel lead(ii) borate–nitrates were obtained through a facile hydrothermal reaction by adjusting the concentrations of the starting materials.