Plutonium keeps its electrons close to home

Released: September 22, 2016
Radioactive material acts like a salt, could benefit nuclear detectors and reactors
Research shows plutonium does not share electrons when it bonds with fluoride atoms. Understanding how plutonium bonds and forms molecules offers insights for nuclear power, security and environmental remediation.

Plutonium is a highly complex element. Scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Washington State University used RadEMSL, EMSL’s radiochemistry facility, to study plutonium tetrafluoride (PuF4), a relatively simple composition. The researchers found PuF4's electrons stay close to each atom, creating ionic bonds. The plutonium and fluorine atoms are bound in a lattice, but act as isolated atoms and form ionic bonds. The team's research could provide insights about key molecules involved in nuclear power, national security and environmental cleanup.

Read more from PNNL's Physical Sciences Division.

Reference: Capan C, RJ Dempsey, S Sinkov, BK McNamara, and H Cho. 2016. "Probing the Pu4+ Magnetic Moment in PuF4 with 19F NMR Spectroscopy." Physical Review B 99:224409. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.93.224409.