Showing papers by "Gary S. Was published in 2022"

Crystallization of A3Ln(BO3)2 (A = Na, K; Ln = Lanthanide) from a Boric Acid Containing Hydroxide Melt: Synthesis and Investigation of Lanthanide Borates as Potential Nuclear Waste Forms.

Abstract: A series of alkali metal rare-earth borates were prepared via high-temperature flux crystal growth, and their structures were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SXRD). Na3Ln(BO3)2 (Ln = La-Lu) crystallize in the monoclinic space group P21/n, the potassium series K3Ln(BO3)2 (Ln = La-Tb) crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pnma, while the Ln = Dy, Ho, Tm, Yb analogues crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pnnm. To demonstrate the generality of this synthetic technique, high-entropy oxide (HEO) compositions K3Nd0.15(1)Eu0.20(1)Gd0.20(1)Dy0.22(1)Ho0.23(1)(BO3)2 and K3Nd0.26(1)Eu0.29(1)Ho0.22(1)Tm0.14(1)Yb0.10(1)(BO3)2 were obtained in single crystal form. Radiation damage investigations determined that these borates have a high radiation damage tolerance. To assess whether trivalent actinide analogues of Na3Ln(BO3)2 and K3Ln(BO3)2 would be stable, density functional theory was used to calculate their enthalpies of formation, which are favorable.

Investigation of Rare Earth-Containing Double Phosphates of the Type A3Ln(PO4)2 (Ln = Y, La, Pr, Nd, and Sm–Lu) as Potential Nuclear Waste Forms

Abstract: A new series of rubidium rare earth double phosphates is presented. High-quality single crystals of Rb3Ln(PO4)2 (Ln = Y, La, Pr, Nd, and Sm–Lu) were grown via high-temperature flux growth methods. The Rb3Ln(PO4)2 (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, and Sm–Tb) phases crystallize in space group P21/m, and the Rb3Ln(PO4)2 (Ln = Y and Dy–Lu) phases crystallize in space group P31m. A thermally induced and reversible structural transition, due to a change in the denticity of a rare earth-ligated phosphate group, is observed between the two structures at a temperature that depends on the incorporated rare earth. High-entropy versions, Rb3[Eu0.2Gd0.2Tb0.2Dy0.2Ho0.2](PO4)2 and Rb3[Gd0.2Tb0.2Dy0.2Ho0.2Er0.2](PO4)2, of the double phosphate were prepared to assess how readily they could be obtained in single-crystal form. A high observed radiation damage tolerance and favorable density functional theory-calculated formation enthalpies for the trivalent actinide analogues of Rb3M(PO4)2 suggest likely successful actinide analogue syntheses in the future.

Developing Waste Forms for Transuranic Elements: Quaternary Neptunium Fluorides of the Type NaxMNp6F30 (M = Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Al, Ga).

Abstract: A series of quaternary Np(IV) fluorides was synthesized using a mild hydrothermal synthesis approach. The compositions are all of the type NaxMNp6F30, where M = Ti(III), V(III), Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Al(III), and Ga(III) and x = 4 for divalent metals, x = 3 for trivalent metals. The compounds all crystallize in the P-3c1 space group and are isotypic with actinide analogues NaxMAn6F30 (An = Ce, U, Th, Pu). Structure data from the neptunium crystals were combined with data from the other actinide analogues to establish the tetravalent, nine-coordinated ionic radii of neptunium (1.030(2) Å), plutonium (1.014(1) Å), and cerium (1.012(2) Å). Radiation damage studies were also carried out on a surrogate material, the cerium analogue Na3AlCe6F30, which indicates that the structure type has low resistance to amorphization. Density functional theory calculations were carried out to compute the band gaps and enthalpies of formation variations among the isotypic cerium and actinide structures to compare the stability of the structures.