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The role of the 5f valence orbitals of early actinides in chemical bonding

Author

Listed:
  • T. Vitova

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE))

  • I. Pidchenko

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE))

  • D. Fellhauer

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE))

  • P. S. Bagus

    (University of North Texas)

  • Y. Joly

    (University Grenoble Alpes, Inst NEEL
    CNRS, Inst NEEL)

  • T. Pruessmann

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE)
    Present address: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT), P.O. 3640, D-76021 Karlsruhe, Germany; Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Chemical Technology and Polymer Chemistry (ITCP), Engesserstr. 20, D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany)

  • S. Bahl

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE))

  • E. Gonzalez-Robles

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE))

  • J. Rothe

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE))

  • M. Altmaier

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE))

  • M. A. Denecke

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE)
    Present address: Dalton Nuclear Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK)

  • H. Geckeis

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE))

Abstract

One of the long standing debates in actinide chemistry is the level of localization and participation of the actinide 5f valence orbitals in covalent bonds across the actinide series. Here we illuminate the role of the 5f valence orbitals of uranium, neptunium and plutonium in chemical bonding using advanced spectroscopies: actinide M4,5 HR-XANES and 3d4f RIXS. Results reveal that the 5f orbitals are active in the chemical bonding for uranium and neptunium, shown by significant variations in the level of their localization evidenced in the spectra. In contrast, the 5f orbitals of plutonium appear localized and surprisingly insensitive to different bonding environments. We envisage that this report of using relative energy differences between the 5fδ/φ and 5fπ*/5fσ* orbitals as a qualitative measure of overlap-driven actinyl bond covalency will spark activity, and extend to numerous applications of RIXS and HR-XANES to gain new insights into the electronic structures of the actinide elements.

Suggested Citation

  • T. Vitova & I. Pidchenko & D. Fellhauer & P. S. Bagus & Y. Joly & T. Pruessmann & S. Bahl & E. Gonzalez-Robles & J. Rothe & M. Altmaier & M. A. Denecke & H. Geckeis, 2017. "The role of the 5f valence orbitals of early actinides in chemical bonding," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms16053
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms16053
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