Syntheses and characterization of nine quaternary uranium chalcogenides among the compounds A2M3UQ6 (A = K, Rb, Cs; M = Pd, Pt; Q = S, Se).

Nine compounds from the series A(2)M(3)UQ(6) (A = K or Rb or Cs; M = Pd or Pt; Q = S or Se) were synthesized by reacting U, M, and Q in ACl or A(2)Q(x) fluxes. These compounds crystallize with eight formula units in the NaBa(2)Cu(3)O(6) structure type, in space group Fmmm of the orthorhombic system. The structure contains hexagons formed from six edge-sharing square-planar coordinated M atoms, which in turn edge-share with trigonal-prismatically coordinated U atoms, forming layers along (010). These layers are separated by A atoms. Electrical resistivity measurements along the [100] direction of Rb(2)Pd(3)US(6) show typical semiconductor behavior. Magnetic susceptibility measurements on Rb(2)Pd(3)US(6) display marked magnetic anisotropy and unusually low magnetic moments owing to crystalline electric field effects.

Syntheses and characterization of six quaternary uranium chalcogenides A2M4U6Q17 (A = Rb or Cs; M = Pd or Pt; Q = S or Se).

The A(2)M(4)U(6)Q(17) compounds Rb(2)Pd(4)U(6)S(17), Rb(2)Pd(4)U(6)Se(17), Rb(2)Pt(4)U(6)Se(17), Cs(2)Pd(4)U(6)S(17), Cs(2)Pd(4)U(6)Se(17), and Cs(2)Pt(4)U(6)Se(17) were synthesized by the high-temperature solid-state reactions of U, M, and Q in a flux of ACl or Rb(2)S(3). These isostructural compounds crystallize in a new structure type, with two formula units in the tetragonal space group P4/mnc. This structure consists of a network of square-planar MQ(4), monocapped trigonal-prismatic UQ(7), and square-antiprismatic UQ(8) polyhedra with A atoms in the voids. Rb(2)Pd(4)U(6)S(17) is a typical semiconductor, as deduced from electrical resistivity measurements. Magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements on single crystals of Rb(2)Pd(4)U(6)S(17) show a phase transition at 13 K, the result either of antiferromagnetic ordering or of a structural phase transition. Periodic spin-polarized band structure calculations were performed on Rb(2)Pd(4)U(6)S(17) with the use of the first principles DFT program VASP. Magnetic calculations included spin-orbit coupling. With U f-f correlations taken into account within the GGA+U formalism in calculating partial densities of states, the compound is predicted to be a narrow-band semiconductor with the smallest indirect and direct band gaps being 0.79 and 0.91 eV, respectively.

Cs(2)UPd(3)Se(6).

Dicaesium uranium(IV) tripalladium(II) hexa-selenide, Cs(2)UPd(3)Se(6), crystallizes in the space group Fmmm in the Ba(2)NaCu(3)O(6) structure type. The asymmetric unit comprises the following atoms with site symmetries as shown: U1 (mm2), Cs1 (222), Cs2 (m2m), Pd1 (.m.), Pd2 (2mm), Se1 (m..), and Se2 (1). This layered structure contains six edge-sharing square-planar [PdSe(4)] units that form a hexa-gon. These, in turn, edge-share with [USe(6)] trigonal-prismatic units, forming an extended layer parallel to (010). The layers are stacked along [010]. They are staggered, and are separated by the Cs atoms. The Cs atoms are either coordinated in a square anti-prism of Se atoms or are ten-coordinate, with one square face and the opposite face hexa-gonal.

Manganese(II) octa-uranium(IV) hepta-deca-sulfide.

Single crystals of manganese(II) octa-uranium(IV) hepta-deca-sulfide, MnU(8)S(17), were grown from the reaction of the elements in a RbCl flux. MnU(8)S(17) crystallizes in the space group C2/m in the CrU(8)S(17) structure type. The asymmetric unit is composed of the following atoms with site symmetries shown: U1 (1), U2 (m), U3 (m), Mn1 (2/m), S1 (1), S2 (1); S3 (m), S4 (m), S5 (m), S6 (m) and S7 (2/m). The three U(IV) atoms are each coordinated by eight S atoms in a bicapped trigonal-prismatic arrangement. The Mn(II) atom is coordinated by six S atoms in a distorted octa-hedral arrangement.

The ß-polymorph of uranium phosphide selenide.

ß-UPSe was synthesized from the reaction of U(2)Se(3), P and Se in a CsCl flux in a fused-silica tube. It crystallizes with four formula units in the tetra-gonal space group I4/mmm in the UGeTe structure type. The asymmetric unit comprises one U (site symmetry 4mm), one Se (4mm), and one P (mmm.) atom. The U atom is coordinated in a monocapped square-anti-prismatic arrangement, where the square face is formed by P atoms and the other five vertices are Se atoms. The P site is disordered about a mirror plane, showing half-ocupancy for each of the two resulting P atoms. The title structure is related to that of α-UPSe, which crystallizes with two formula units in the tetra-gonal space group P4/nmm in the PbFCl structure type.