Structural Chemistry of the Neptunium-Germanium Binary System

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 2001 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1006/jssc.2000.9000· OSTI ID:784086

Boulet, P; Bouexiere, D; Rebizant, J; Wastin, F

The structural chemistry of the complete binary neptunium-germanide system has been investigated by means of X-ray diffraction. In addition to the well-known NpGe{sub 3} (AuCu{sub 3} type), at least five new binary phases have been found. The crystal structure of NpGe{sub 2-x} (defect ThSi{sub 2} type), NpGe{sub 2-x} (defect AlB{sub 2} type), NpGe (USi type), Np{sub 5}Ge{sub 4} (Ti{sub 5}Ga{sub 4} type), and Np{sub 5}Ge{sub 3} (W{sub 5}Si{sub 3} type) have been refined from single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction data. X-ray powder analyses by Rietveld-type profile refinement revealed a small homogeneity range of the three first phases, as usually observed with the rare-earth or uranium isotypic compounds, whereas Np{sub 5}Ge{sub 4} and Np{sub 5}Ge{sub 3} seem to be line compounds as the unit cell parameters were independent of the starting composition. The formation and the homogeneity range of these new phases are discussed, and the structural evolution is compared with the analogous uranium binary system.

• Research Organization: European Commission, Joint Research Center, Institute for Transuranium Elements, Karlsruhe (DE)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy; European Commission program ''Training and Mobility of Researchers'' (US)
• OSTI ID: 784086
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Solid State Chemistry Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 156; ISSN 0022-4596; ISSN JSSCBI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CHEMISTRY
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GERMANIDES
GERMANIUM
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
NEPTUNIUM
NEPTUNIUM COMPOUNDS
PHASE STUDIES
URANIUM
X-RAY DIFFRACTION