Exploring the Valence Diversity of Uranium by Flux Growth of Uranium Silicate under Inert Atmosphere

The attributes of good solubility and the redox-neutral nature of molten salt fluxes enable them to be useful for the synthesis of novel crystalline actinide compounds. In this work, a flux growth method under an inert atmosphere is proposed to explore the valence diversity of uranium, and a series of five uranium silicate structures, [K3Cl][(UVIO2)(Si4O10)] (1), Cs3[(UVO2)(Si4O10)] (2), K2[UIV(Si2O7)] (3), K8[(UVIO2)(UVO2)2(Si8O22)] (4), and Cs6[UIV(UVO)2(Si12O32)] (5), were synthesized using different metal halide salt and feeding U/Si ratios. Crystal structure analysis reveals that the utilization of argon atmosphere that helps to avoid possible oxidation of low-valence uranium generates a variety of oxidation states of uranium including U(VI), U(V), U(IV), mixed-valence U(V) and U(VI), and mixed-valence U(IV) and U(V). Characterization of physicochemical properties of representative compounds shows that all these uranium silicate compounds have bandgaps among the range of 2.0-3.4 eV, and mixed-valence uranium silicate compounds have relatively narrower bandgaps. Density functional theory calculations on formation enthalpies, lattice energies, and bandgaps of all five compounds were also performed to provide more structural information about these uranium silicates. This work enriches the library of variable-valence uranium silicate compounds and provides a feasible way to produce novel actinide compounds with intriguing properties through the flux growth method that might show potential application in relevant fields such as storage media for nuclear waste.

Polymorphism and polymorph-dependent luminescence properties of the first lithium oxonitridolithosilicate Li3SiNO2:Eu2

Building on studies of monoclinic Li₃SiNO₂, a polymorph, β-Li₃SiNO₂, with a previously unknown structure type was synthesized. The β-phase crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca (no. 61) with lattice parameters of a = 18.736(2), b = 11.1267(5), c = 5.0897(3) Å, and a cell volume of V = 1057.2(1) ų. Using high-temperature solid-state reactions in sealed tantalum tubes, it was possible to obtain high purity samples (<5 wt% of side phase LiSi₂N₃ according to Rietveld analysis) containing exclusively one or the other polymorph, depending solely on the cooling rate. In contrast to the monoclinic phase, orthorhombic β-Li₃SiNO₂ additionally contains a third layer and shows a layer-sequence of the type ABCB. Doped with the activator ion Eu²⁺, the new polymorph exhibits an intense yellow emission (λ_max = 586 nm, fwhm = 89 nm, 0.33 eV, 2650 cm^-1) under irradiation with UV to blue light. Hence, the structural difference between the two polymorphs goes along with a significant blue-shift of 16 nm. The results from single-crystal diffraction and single-grain luminescence measurements were confirmed by Rietveld analysis of bulk samples and powder luminescence data.

Luminescence and Scintillation in the Niobium Doped Oxyfluoride Rb4Ge5O9F6:Nb

A new niobium-doped inorganic scintillating oxyfluoride, Rb4Ge5O9F6:Nb, was synthesized in single crystal form by high-temperature flux growth. The host structure, Rb4Ge5O9F6, crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbcn with lattice parameters a = 6.98430(10) Å, b = 11.7265(2) Å, and c = 19.2732(3) Å, consisting of germanium oxyfluoride layers made up of Ge3O9 units connected by GeO3F3 octahedra. In its pure form, Rb4Ge5O9F6 shows neither luminescence nor scintillation but when doped with niobium, Rb4Ge5O9F6:Nb exhibits bright blue luminescence and scintillation. The isostructural doped structure, Rb4Ge5O9F6:Nb, crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbcn with lattice parameters a = 6.9960(3) Å, b = 11.7464(6) Å, and c = 19.3341(9) Å. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements suggest that the niobium is located in an octahedral coordination environment. Optical measurements inform us that the niobium dopant acts as the activator. The synthesis, structure, and optical properties are reported, including radioluminescence (RL) measurements under X-ray irradiation.

Polymorphism and photoluminescence properties of K3ErSi2O7

Two polymorphs of tripotassium erbium disilicate, K₃ErSi₂O₇, were synthesized by high-temperature flux crystal growth during the exploration of the flux technique for growing new alkali rare-earth elements (REE) containing silicates. Their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. One of them (denoted 1) crystallizes in the space group P6₃/mmc and is isostructural with disilicates K₃LuSi₂O₇, K₃ScSi₂O₇ and K₃YSi₂O₇, while the other (denoted 2) crystallizes in the space group P6₃/mcm and is isostructural with disilicates K₃NdSi₂O₇, K₃REESi₂O₇ (REE = Gd-Yb), K₃YSi₂O₇, K₃(Y_0.9Dy_0.1)Si₂O₇ and K₃SmSi₂O₇. In the crystal structure of polymorph 1, the Er cations are in an almost perfect octahedral coordination, while in the crystal structure of polymorph 2, part of the Er cations are in a slightly distorted octahedral coordination and the other part are in an ideal trigonal prismatic coordination environment. Sharing six corners, disilicate Si₂O₇ groups in the crystal structure of polymorph 1 link six ErO₆ octahedra, forming a three-dimensional network and nine-coordinated potassium cations are located in its holes. In the crystal structure of polymorph 2, the disilicate Si₂O₇ groups connect four ErO₆ octahedra, as well as one ErO₆ trigonal prism. Three differently coordinated potassium cations are situated between them. Different site symmetries of the erbium cations in the crystal structures of polymorphs 1 and 2 affect their photoluminescence properties. Only polymorph 2 exhibits luminescence. Intense narrow lines in the emission spectrum are a result of the 4f-4f transition. The green emission line at 560 nm is the result of the Er³⁺ transition ⁴S_3/2→⁴I_15/2, and the luminescence line at 690 nm is the result of a ⁴F_9/2→⁴I_15/2 transition. The crystal morphologies of the two polymorphs are similar. Crystals of polymorph 1 are in the form of a hexagonal prism in combination with a hexagonal base, while crystals of polymorph 2 contain a dihexagonal prism in combination with a hexagonal base, although poorly developed faces of the dihexagonal pyramid can also be noticed.

Site-Selective Occupancy of Eu2+ Toward Blue-Light-Excited Red Emission in a Rb3 YSi2 O7 :Eu Phosphor

Establishing an effective design principle in solid-state materials for a blue-light-excited Eu²⁺ -doped red-emitting oxide-based phosphors remains one of the significant challenges for white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs). Selective occupation of Eu²⁺ in inorganic polyhedra with small coordination numbers results in broad-band red emission as a result of enhanced crystal-field splitting of 5d levels. Rb₃ YSi₂ O₇ :Eu exhibits a broad emission band at λ_max =622 nm under 450 nm excitation, and structural analysis and DFT calculations support the concept that Eu²⁺ ions preferably occupy RbO₆ and YO₆ polyhedra and show the characteristic red emission band of Eu²⁺ . The excellent thermal quenching resistance, high color-rendering index R_a (93), and low CCT (4013 K) of the WLEDs clearly demonstrate that site engineering of rare-earth phosphors is an effective strategy to target tailored optical performance.

Observation of Intense X-ray Scintillation in a Family of Mixed Anion Silicates, Cs3RESi4O10F2 (RE = Y, Eu-Lu), Obtained via an Enhanced Flux Crystal Growth Technique

A new family of mixed anion cesium rare earth silicates exhibiting intense scintillation in several ranges of the visible spectrum are reported. Cs₃RESi₄O₁₀F₂ (RE = Y, Eu-Lu) have been synthesized using an enhanced flux growth method for the targeted growth of mixed anion systems. This is the first example of this method being used for the growth of oxyhalides. The compounds crystallize in the triclinic space group P1̅ with the lattice parameters a = 7.0832(2) Å, b = 7.1346(2) Å, c = 16.2121(5) Å, α = 95.8090(10)°, β = 90.0580(10)°, γ = 119.7650(10)° for the Tb analogue. The structure consists of REO₆ and REO₂F₄ polyhedra connected by Si₄O₁₀ sheets with a previously unobserved silicate sheet topology that contains the uncommon cyclic Si₃O₉ trimers. The synthesis, structure, magnetic and optical properties are reported including, notably, intense X-ray scintillation in Cs₃TbSi₄O₁₀F₂.