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Photophysical Dynamics and Relaxation Pathways of Ligand-to-Metal Charge-Transfer States in the 5f1 [Np(VI)O2Cl4]2– Anion

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory
Although several publications report on the electronic structure of the neptunyl ion, experimental measurements to detail the photophysical dynamics of this open-shell actinyl system are limited in number. Additionally, time-resolved photoluminescence has been a useful experimental approach for understanding photophysical dynamics and relaxation pathways of a variety of other molecular and ionic systems, including gaseous plutonium hexafluoride and solid-state uranyl compounds. Here, we investigate time-resolved photoluminescence emission of the 5f1 neptunyl tetrachloride ([Np(VI)O2Cl4]2–) dianion following visible excitation. Photoemission of the lowest energy neptunyl ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) transitions to both the ground and first electronically excited states is observed. Analyses of the decay lifetimes of the excited states suggest different relaxation pathways as a function of excitation energy. Vibronic progressions associated with the Np-oxo symmetric stretching mode are measured in emission spectra, and the energies from these progressions are compared with energies of vibronic progressions associated with the excitation spectra of [Np(VI)O2Cl4]2–. Here, this study expands our understanding of this open-shell actinyl system beyond identification of excited states, allowing characterization of photophysical properties and evidence for the electronic character of the ground state, and suggests that this approach may be applicable to more complex actinide systems.
Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
Grant/Contract Number:
89233218CNA000001; AC52-06NA25396
OSTI ID:
1505989
Report Number(s):
LA-UR--17-20444
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory, Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 121; ISSN 1089-5639
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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