Structural Characterization of Uranium Tetrafluoride Hydrate (UF(4 center dot)2.5H(2)O)

Uranium tetrafluoride is an important intermediate in the nuclear fuel cycle. Facile synthesis of its hydrate, uranium tetrafluoride hydrate (UF4 center dot 2.5H2O), has recently been reported. The hydrate forms by contacting anhydrous UF4 with neat H2O at room temperature for 24 h or by exposing anhydrous UF4 to high relative humidity (>90%) conditions for several weeks. These pathways are of clear environmental relevance. Further understanding of the structure and optical spectra of UF4 center dot 2.5H2O, especially of the water molecules, is therefore necessary. Herein, the structure of UF4 center dot 2.5H2O was probed using time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction to improve understanding of the crystalline water environments in the structure. The complete structure was elucidated and compared to a previously reported partial structure for UF4 center dot 2.5H2O and a predicted complete structure from density functional theory. The crystalline structure exhibits three distinct water environments: two of the three water sites are bound to uranium, and the third water is unbound or free. Furthermore, the completed structure reveals an extensive hydrogen bonding network involving water-fluorine and water-water interactions. One bound water site participates in hydrogen bonding with nearby fluoride ligands (O-H center dot center dot center dot F-U), and the second bound water site participates in hydrogen bonding with the unbound water (O-H center dot center dot center dot O) and a nearby fluoride ligand (O-H center dot center dot center dot F-U); the unbound water participates in hydrogen bonding with bound water (O-H center dot center dot center dot O- U). Low-temperature experiments and thermal analysis indicate UF4 center dot 2.5H2O is thermally stable from 10 to 358 K, undergoes dehydration at higher temperatures, and is nearly dehydrated at 473 K. Structural measurements provide foundational understanding and will inform future investigations of the thermal and environmental stability of UF4 center dot 2.5H2O.

Automated summary

This study investigated the structure of uranium tetrafluoride hydrate (UF4·2.5H2O) using time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction. The crystal structure of UF4·2.5H2O exhibits three distinct water environments, with extensive hydrogen bonding between water molecules and fluoride ligands. Thermal analysis showed that UF4·2.5H2O is thermally stable up to certain temperatures and undergoes dehydration at higher temperatures.