Nanoscale uranium-based cage clusters inspired by uranium mineralogy

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 2011 · Mineralogical Magazine

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1180/minmag.2011.075.1.1· OSTI ID:1386723

Burns, P. C.

Taking advantage of the bent uranyl-peroxide-uranyl interaction found in studtite, 26 nanoscale clusters have been synthesized using uranyl hexagonal bipyramids. Sixteen of these clusters are built from uranyl hexagonal bipyramids only. Eight contain pyrophosphate groups that bridge between uranyl polyhedra, and two contain oxalate groups that adopt a similar structural role. These clusters contain from 20 to 60 uranyl polyhedra and have diameters in the range ~1.5 to 3 nm. All spontaneously self-assemble in aqueous solution under ambient conditions.

• Research Organization: Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Materials Science of Actinides (MSA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE SC Office of Basic Energy Sciences (SC-22)
• DOE Contract Number: SC0001089
• OSTI ID: 1386723
• Journal Information: Mineralogical Magazine, Journal Name: Mineralogical Magazine Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 75; ISSN 0026-461X
• Publisher: Mineralogical Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
nuclear (including radiation effects)
materials and chemistry by design
synthesis (novel materials)
synthesis (self-assembly)