Operando Imaging of Ce Radical Scavengers in a Practical Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell by 3D Fluorescence CT-XAFS and Depth-Profiling Nano-XAFS-SEM/EDS Techniques.

There is little information on the spatial distribution, migration, and valence of Ce species doped as an efficient radical scavenger in a practical polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) for commercial fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) closely related to a severe reliability issue for long-term PEFC operation. An in situ three-dimensional fluorescence computed tomography-X-ray absorption fine structure (CT-XAFS) imaging technique and an in situ same-view nano-XAFS-scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS) combination technique were applied for the first time to perform operando spatial visualization and depth-profiling analysis of Ce radical scavengers in a practical PEFC of Toyota MIRAI FCV under PEFC operating conditions. Using these in situ techniques, we successfully visualized and analyzed the domain, density, valence, and migration of Ce scavengers that were heterogeneously distributed in the components of PEFC, such as anode microporous layer, anode catalyst layer, polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM), cathode catalyst layer, and cathode microporous layer. The average Ce valence states in the whole PEFC and PEM were 3.9+ and 3.4+, respectively, and the Ce3+/Ce4+ ratios in the PEM under H2 (anode)-N2 (cathode) at an open-circuit voltage (OCV), H2-air at 0.2 A cm-2, and H2-air at 0.0 A cm-2 were 70 ± 5:30 ± 5%, as estimated by both in situ fluorescence CT-X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) and nano-XANES-SEM/EDS techniques. The Ce3+ migration rates in the electrolyte membrane toward the anode and cathode electrodes ranged from 0.3 to 3.8 µm h-1, depending on the PEFC operating conditions. Faster Ce3+ migration was not observed with voltage transient response processes by highly time-resolved (100 ms) and spatially resolved (200 nm) nano-XANES imaging. Ce3+ ions were suggested to be coordinated with both Nafion sulfonate (Nfsul) groups and water to form [Ce(Nfsul)x(H2O)y]3+. The Ce migration behavior may also be affected by the spatial density of Ce, interactions of Ce with Nafion, thickness and states of the PEM, and H2O convection, in addition to the PEFC operating conditions. The unprecedented operando imaging of Ce radical scavengers in the practical PEFCs by both in situ three-dimensional (3D) fluorescence CT-XAFS imaging and in situ depth-profiling nano-XAFS-SEM/EDS techniques yields intriguing insights into the spatial distribution, chemical states, and behavior of Ce scavengers under the working conditions for the development of next-generation PEFCs with high long-term reliability and durability.

Visualization and understanding of the degradation behaviors of a PEFC Pt/C cathode electrocatalyst using a multi-analysis system combining time-resolved quick XAFS, three-dimensional XAFS-CT, and same-view nano-XAFS/STEM-EDS techniques.

We developed a multi-analysis system that can measure in situ time-resolved quick XAFS (QXAFS) and in situ three-dimensional XAFS-CT spatial imaging in the same area of a cathode electrocatalyst layer in a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) at the BL36XU beamline of SPring-8. The multi-analysis system also achieves ex situ two-dimensional nano-XAFS/STEM-EDS same-view measurements of a sliced MEA fabricated from a given place in the XAFS-CT imaged area at high spatial resolutions under a water-vapor saturated N2 atmosphere using a same-view SiN membrane cell. In this study, we applied the combination method of time-resolved QXAFS/3D XAFS-CT/2D nano-XAFS/STEM-EDS for the first time for the visualization analysis of the anode-gas exchange (AGEX) (simulation of the start-up/shut-down of PEFC vehicles) degradation process of a PEFC MEA Pt/C cathode. The AGEX cycles bring about serious irreversible degradation of both Pt nanoparticles and carbon support due to a spike-like large voltage increase. We could visualize the three-dimensional distribution and two-dimensional depth map of the amount, oxidation state (valence), Pt2+ elution, detachment, and aggregation of Pt species and the formation of carbon voids, where the change and movement of the Pt species in the cathode catalyst layer during the AGEX cycles did not proceed exceeding the 1 µm region. It is very different from the case of an ADT (an accelerated durability test between 0.6-1.0 VRHE)-degraded MEA. We discuss the spatiotemporal behavior of the AGEX degradation process and the degradation mechanism.

Visualization Analysis of Pt and Co Species in Degraded Pt3Co/C Electrocatalyst Layers of a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Using a Same-View Nano-XAFS/STEM-EDS Combination Technique.

In order to obtain a suitable design policy for the development of a next-generation polymer electrolyte fuel cell, we performed a visualization analysis of Pt and Co species following aging and degradation processes in membrane-electrode assembly (MEA), using a same-view. Nano-X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS)/Scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM)-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) technique that we developed to elucidate durability factors and degradation mechanisms of a MEA Pt3Co/C cathode electrocatalyst with higher activity and durability than a MEA Pt/C. In the MEA Pt3Co/C, after 5000 ADT-rec (rectangle accelerated durability test) cycles, unlike the MEA Pt/C, there was no oxidation of Pt. In contrast, Co oxidized and dissolved over a wide range of the cathode layer (∼70% of the initial Co amount). The larger the size of the cracks and pores in the MEA Pt/C and the smaller the ratio of Pt/ionomer of cracks and pores, the faster the rate of catalyst degradation. In contrast, there was no correlation between the size or Co/ionomer ratio of the cracks and pores and the Co dissolution of the MEA Pt3Co/C. It was shown that Co dissolved in the electrolyte region had an octahedral Co2+-O6 structure, based on a 150 nm × 150 nm nano-XAFS analysis. It was also shown that its existence suppressed the oxidation and dissolution of Pt. The MEA Pt3Co/C after 10,000 ADT-rec cycles had many cracks and pores in the cathode electrocatalyst layer, and about 90% of Co had been dissolved and removed from the cathode layer. We discovered a metallic Pt-Co alloy band in the electrolyte region of 300-400 nm from the cathode edge and square planar Pt2+-O4 species and octahedral Co2+-O6 species in the area between the cathode edge and the Pt-Co band. The transition of Pt and Co chemical species in the Pt3Co/C cathode electrocatalyst in the MEA during the degradation process, as well as a fuel cell deterioration suppression process by Co were visualized for the first time at the nano scale using the same-view nano-XAFS/STEM-EDS combination technique that can measure the MEA under a humid N2 atmosphere while maintaining the working environment for a fuel cell.

An Integrated Single-Electrode Method Reveals the Template Roles of Atomic Steps: Disturb Interfacial Water Networks and Thus Affect the Reactivity of Electrocatalysts.

A method enabling the accurate and precise correlation between structures and properties is critical to the development of efficient electrocatalysts. To this end, we developed an integrated single-electrode method (ISM) that intimately couples electrochemical rotating disk electrodes, in situ/operando X-ray absorption fine structures, and aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy on identical electrodes. This all-in-one method allows for the one-to-one, in situ/operando, and atomic-scale correlation between structures of electrocatalysts with their electrochemical reactivities, distinct from common methods that adopt multisamples separately for electrochemical and physical characterizations. Because the atomic step is one of the most fundamentally structural elements in electrocatalysts, we demonstrated the feasibility of ISM by exploring the roles of atomic steps in the reactivity of electrocatalysts. In situ and atomic-scale evidence shows that low-coordinated atomic steps not only generate reactive species at low potentials and strengthen surface contraction but also act as templates to disturb interfacial water networks and thus affect the reactivity of electrocatalysts. This template role interprets the long-standing puzzle regarding why high-index facets are active for the oxygen reduction reaction in acidic media. The ISM as a fundamentally new method for workflows should aid the study of many other electrocatalysts regarding their nature of active sites and operative mechanisms.

Key Factors for Simultaneous Improvements of Performance and Durability of Core-Shell Pt3 Ni/Carbon Electrocatalysts Toward Superior Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell.

It remains a big challenge to remarkably improve both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and long-term durability of Pt-M bimetal electrocatalysts simultaneously in the harsh cathode environment toward widespread commercialization of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC). In this account we found double-promotional effects of carbon micro coil (CMC) support on ORR performance and durability of octahedral Pt3 Ni nanoparticles (Oh Pt3 Ni/CMC). The Oh Pt3 Ni/CMC displayed remarkable improvements of mass activity (MA; 13.6 and 34.1 times) and surface specific activity (SA; 31.3 and 37.0 times) compared to those of benchmark Pt/C (TEC10E20E) and Pt/C (TEC10E50E-HT), respectively. Notably, the Oh Pt3 Ni/CMC revealed a negligible MA loss after 50,000 triangular-wave 1.0-1.5 VRHE (startup/shutdown) load cycles, contrasted to MA losses of 40 % (TEC10E20E) and 21.5 % (TEC10E50E-HT) by only 10,000 load cycles. It was also found that the SA increased exponentially with the decrease in the CO stripping peak potential in a series of Pt-M/carbon (M: Ni and Co), which predicts a maximum SA at the curve asymptote. Key factors for simultaneous improvements of performance and durability of core-shell Pt3 Ni/carbon electrocatalysts toward superior PEFC is also discussed.

Observation of Degradation of Pt and Carbon Support in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Using Combined Nano-X-ray Absorption Fine Structure and Transmission Electron Microscopy Techniques.

It is hard to directly visualize spectroscopic and atomic-nanoscopic information on the degraded Pt/C cathode layer inside polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC). However, it is mandatory to understand the preferential area, sequence, and relationship of the degradations of Pt nanoparticles and carbon support in the Pt/C cathode layer by directly observing the Pt/C cathode catalyst for the development of next-generation PEFC cathode catalysts. Here, the spectroscopic, chemical, and morphological visualization of the degradation of Pt/C cathode electrocatalysts in PEFC was performed successfully by a same-view combination technique of nano-X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM)/scanning TEM-energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS) under a humid N2 atmosphere. The same-view nano-XAFS and TEM/STEM-EDS imaging of the Pt/C cathode of PEFC after triangular-wave 1.0-1.5 VRHE (startup/shutdown) accelerated durability test (tri-ADT) cycles elucidated the site-selective area, sequence, and relationship of the degradations of Pt nanoparticles and carbon support in the Pt/C cathode layer. The 10 tri-ADT cycles caused a carbon corrosion to reduce the carbon size preferentially in the boundary regions of the cathode layer with both electrolyte and holes/cracks, accompanied with detachment of Pt nanoparticles from the degraded carbon. After the decrease in the carbon size to less than 8 nm by the 20 tri-ADT cycles, Pt nanoparticles around the extremely corroded carbon areas were found to transform and dissolve into oxidized Pt2+-O4 species.

Surface-Regulated Nano-SnO2/Pt3Co/C Cathode Catalysts for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells Fabricated by a Selective Electrochemical Sn Deposition Method.

We have achieved significant improvements for the oxygen reduction reaction activity and durability with new SnO2-nanoislands/Pt3Co/C catalysts in 0.1 M HClO4, which were regulated by a strategic fabrication using a new selective electrochemical Sn deposition method. The nano-SnO2/Pt3Co/C catalysts with Pt/Sn = 4/1, 9/1, 11/1, and 15/1 were characterized by STEM-EDS, XRD, XRF, XPS, in situ XAFS, and electrochemical measurements to have a Pt3Co core/Pt skeleton-skin structure decorated with SnO2 nanoislands at the compressive Pt surface with the defects and dislocations. The high performances of nano-SnO2/Pt3Co/C originate from efficient electronic modification of the Pt skin surface (site 1) by both the Co of the Pt3Co core and surface nano-SnO2 and more from the unique property of the periphery sites of the SnO2 nanoislands at the compressive Pt skeleton-skin surface (more active site 2), which were much more active than expected from the d-band center values. The white line peak intensity of the nano-SnO2/Pt3Co/C revealed no hysteresis in the potential up-down operations between 0.4 and 1.0 V versus RHE, unlike the cases of Pt/C and Pt3Co/C, resulting in the high ORR performance. Here we report development of a new class of cathode catalysts with two different active sites for next-generation polymer electrolyte fuel cells.

Same-View Nano-XAFS/STEM-EDS Imagings of Pt Chemical Species in Pt/C Cathode Catalyst Layers of a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell.

We have made the first success in the same-view imagings of 2D nano-XAFS and TEM/STEM-EDS under a humid N2 atmosphere for Pt/C cathode catalyst layers in membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) with Nafion membrane to examine the degradation of Pt/C cathodes by anode gas exchange cycles (start-up/shut-down simulations of PEFC vehicles). The same-view imaging under the humid N2 atmosphere provided unprecedented spatial information on the distribution of Pt nanoparticles and oxidation states in the Pt/C cathode catalyst layer as well as Nafion ionomer-filled nanoholes of carbon support in the wet MEA, which evidence the origin of the formation of Pt oxidation species and isolated Pt nanoparticles in the nanohole areas of the cathode layer with different Pt/ionomer ratios, relevant to the degradation of PEFC catalysts.

Mapping platinum species in polymer electrolyte fuel cells by spatially resolved XAFS techniques.

There is limited information on the mechanism for platinum oxidation and dissolution in Pt/C cathode catalyst layers of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) under the operating conditions though these issues should be uncovered for the development of next-generation PEFCs. Pt species in Pt/C cathode catalyst layers are mapped by a XAFS (X-ray absorption fine structure) method and by a quick-XAFS(QXAFS) method. Information on the site-preferential oxidation and leaching of Pt cathode nanoparticles around the cathode boundary and the micro-crack in degraded PEFCs is provided, which is relevant to the origin and mechanism of PEFC degradation.

Performance and durability of Pt/C cathode catalysts with different kinds of carbons for polymer electrolyte fuel cells characterized by electrochemical and in situ XAFS techniques.

The electrochemical activity and durability of Pt nanoparticles on different kinds of carbon supports in oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) were investigated using rotating disc electrodes (RDE) and the membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC). The mass activity of Pt/C catalysts (ORR activity per 1 mg of Pt) at the RDE decreased, according to the type of carbon support, in the following order; Ketjenblack (KB) > acetylene black (AB) > graphene > multiwall carbon nanotube (MW-CNT) > carbon black (CB), whereas the average size of the Pt nanoparticles and the surface specific activity (ORR activity per electrochemical surface area) did not vary significantly between these carbon supports. These results indicate that the different mass activities of the Pt/C catalysts may originate from the differences in the fraction of Pt on the carbon supports which is available for utilization. The durability of the MEAs of the top two active catalysts Pt/KB and Pt/AB among the five catalysts was examined based on ORR performance, TEM and in situ XAFS. It was found that the performance of the Pt/KB cathode catalyst in PEFC MEA decreased significantly over 500 accelerated durability test (ADT) cycles, whereas the performance of the Pt/AB cathode catalyst in PEFC MEA did not decrease significantly during 500 ADT cycles, it was also found that the Pt/AB possesses 8 times higher durability compared with the Pt/KB. In situ Pt LIII-edge XAFS data in the ADT cycles and stepwise potential operations revealed the different oxidation-reduction behaviors of the Pt nanoparticles on the KB and AB supports. The Pt/KB was oxidized to form surface PtO layers more easily than the Pt/AB in the increasing potential operation from 0.4 VRHE to 1.4 VRHE, and the surface PtO layers of the Pt/AB were reduced to the metallic Pt state more readily than those of the Pt/KB in the decreasing potential operation from 1.4 VRHE to 0.4 VRHE. The XAFS analysis for the Pt valences and the coordination numbers of Pt-O and Pt-Pt demonstrated that the Pt/AB catalyst is more durable than the Pt/KB catalyst in PEFC MEAs.

Performance and characterization of a Pt-Sn(oxidized)/C cathode catalyst with a SnO2-decorated Pt3Sn nanostructure for oxygen reduction reaction in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

We have prepared and characterized a SnO2-decorated Pt-Sn(oxidized)/C cathode catalyst in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC). Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance of Pt/C (TEC10E50E) remained almost unchanged or even tended to reduce in repeated I-V load cycles, whereas the I-V load performance of the Pt-Sn(oxidized)/C prepared by controlled oxidation of a Pt-Sn alloy/C sample with the Pt3Sn phase revealed a significant increase with increasing I-V load cycles. The unique increase in the ORR performance of the Pt-Sn(oxidized)/C catalyst was ascribed to a promoting effect of SnO2 nano-islands formed on the surface of Pt3Sn core nanoparticles. Also in a rotating disk electrode (RDE) setup, the mass activity of an oxidized Pt3Sn/C catalyst was initially much lower than that of a Pt/C catalyst, but it increased remarkably after 5000 rectangular durability cycles and became higher than that of the fresh Pt/C. The maximum power density per electrochemical surface area for the Pt-Sn(oxidized)/C catalyst in a PEFC was about 5 times higher than that for the Pt/C catalyst at 0.1-0.8 A cm(-2) of the current density. In situ X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) analysis at the Pt LIII-edge in increasing/decreasing potential operations and at the Sn K-edge in the I-V load cycles revealed a remarkable suppression of Pt oxidation compared with the Pt/C catalyst at higher potentials and no change in the Sn oxidation state, respectively, resulting in higher performance and stability of the Pt-Sn(oxidized)/C catalyst due to the SnO2 nano-islands under the PEFC operation conditions. The SnO2 nano-island decorated Pt-Sn(oxidized)/C catalyst with a Pt3Sn alloy nanostructure is regarded as a promising candidate for a PEFC cathode catalyst.

Uranyl-halide complexation in N,N-dimethylformamide: halide coordination trend manifests hardness of [UO2]2+.

Complexation of [UO2](2+) with Cl(-), Br(-), and I(-) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) was studied by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) to clearly differentiate halide coordination strengths to [UO2](2+). In the Cl(-) system, it was clarified that the Cl(-) coordination to [UO2](2+) in DMF proceeds almost quantitatively. The coordination number of Cl(-) almost quantitatively increases up to 4, i.e., the limiting complex is [UO2Cl4](2-). Logarithmic gross stability constants of [UO2Cl(x)](2-x) (x = 1-4) were evaluated as log ß1 = 9.67, log ß2 = 15.49, log ß3 = 19.89, and log ß4 = 24.63 from UV-vis titration experiments. The EXAFS results well demonstrated not only the Cl(-) coordination, but also the DMF solvation in the equatorial plane of [UO2](2+). The interaction of Br(-) and I(-) with [UO2](2+) in DMF was also investigated. As a result, the Br(-) coordination to [UO2](2+) stops at the second step, i.e., only [UO2Br](+) and UO2Br2 were observed. The molecular structure of each occurring species was confirmed by EXAFS. The evaluated log ßx values of [UO2Br(x)](2-x) (x = 1, 2) are 3.45 and 5.42, respectively. The much smaller log ßx than those of [UO2Cl(x)](2-x) indicates that Br(-) is a much weaker ligand to [UO2](2+) than Cl(-). The EXAFS experiments revealed that the presence of I(-) in the test solution does not modify any coordination structure around [UO2](2+). Thus, I(-) does not form any stable [UO2](2+) complexes in DMF. Consequently, the stability of the halido complexes of [UO2](2+) in DMF is exactly in line with the hardness order of halides.

Structure and stability range of a hexanuclear Th(IV)-glycine complex.

A hexanuclear Th(IV)-glycine complex was observed by Th L(3)-edge EXAFS measurements in an aqueous solution. Within the stability range of this complex the positively charged hexanuclear species [Th(6)(µ(3)-O)(4)(µ(3)-OH)(4)(H(2)O)(6)(Gly)(6)(HGly)(6)](6+) was preserved in a crystal with the composition [Th(6)(µ(3)-O)(4)(µ(3)-OH)(4)(H(2)O)(6)(Gly)(6)(HGly)(6)]·(NO(3))(3)(ClO(4))(3)(H(2)O)(3). This complex appears as a result of a competing reaction between hydrolysis and ligation by glycine. At a pH value below the stability range of the hexanuclear complex, crystals with the composition [Th(H(2)O)(3)(HGly)(3)]·(ClO(4))(4)H(2)O were obtained from the solution. Three water molecules in the thorium coordination sphere indicate that this complex occurs prior to the onset of Th(IV) hydrolysis.

Formation of soluble hexanuclear neptunium(IV) nanoclusters in aqueous solution: growth termination of actinide(IV) hydrous oxides by carboxylates.

Complexation of Np(IV) with several carboxylates (RCOO(-); R = H, CH(3), or CHR'NH(2); R' = H, CH(3), or CH(2)SH) in moderately acidic aqueous solutions was studied by using UV-vis-NIR and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. As the pH increased, all investigated carboxylates initiated formation of water-soluble hexanuclear complexes, Np(6)(µ-RCOO)(12)(µ(3)-O)(4)(µ(3)-OH)(4), in which the neighboring Np atoms are connected by RCOO(-)syn-syn bridges and the triangular faces of the Np(6) octahedron are capped with µ(3)-O(2-)/µ(3)-OH(-). The structure information of Np(6)(µ-RCOO)(12)(µ(3)-O)(4)(µ(3)-OH)(4) in aqueous solution was extracted from the extended X-ray absorption fine structure data: Np-O(2-) = 2.22-2.23 Å (coordination number N = 1.9-2.2), Np-O(RCOO(-)) and Np-OH(-) = 2.42-2.43 Å (N = 5.6-6.7 in total), Np···C(RCOO(-)) = 3.43 Å (N = 3.3-3.9), Np···Np(neighbor) = 3.80-3.82 Å (N = 3.6-4.0), and Np···Np(terminal) = 5.39-5.41 Å (N = 1.0-1.2). For the simpler carboxylates, the gross stability constants of Np(6)(µ-RCOO)(12)(µ(3)-O)(4)(µ(3)-OH)(4) and related monomers, Np(RCOO)(OH)(2)(+), were determined from the UV-vis-NIR titration data: when R = H, log ß(6,12,-12) = 42.7 ± 1.2 and log ß(1,1,-2) = 2.51 ± 0.05 at I = 0.62 M and 295 K; when R = CH(3), log ß(6,12,-12) = 52.0 ± 0.7 and log ß(1,1,-2) = 3.86 ± 0.03 at I = 0.66 M and 295 K.

Molecular structure and electrochemical behavior of uranyl(VI) complex with pentadentate Schiff base ligand: prevention of uranyl(V) cation-cation interaction by fully chelating equatorial coordination sites.

The U(VI) complex with a pentadentate Schiff base ligand (N,N'-disalicylidenediethylenetriaminate = saldien(2-)) was prepared as a starting material of a potentially stable U(V) complex without any possibility of U(V)O(2)(+)...U(V)O(2)(+) cation-cation interaction and was found in three different crystal phases. Two of them had the same composition of U(VI)O(2)(saldien) x DMSO in orthorhombic and monoclinic systems (DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide, 1a and 1c, respectively). The DMSO molecule in both 1a and 1c does not show any coordination to U(VI)O(2)(saldien), but it is just present as a solvent in the crystal structures. The other isolated crystals consisted only of U(VI)O(2)(saldien) without incorporation of solvent molecules (1b, orthorhombic). A different conformation of the coordinated saldien(2-) in 1c from those in 1a and 1b was observed. The conformers exchange each other in a solution through a flipping motion of the phenyl rings. The pentagonal equatorial coordination of U(VI)O(2)(saldien) remains unchanged even in strongly Lewis-basic solvents, DMSO and N,N-dimethylformamide. Cyclic voltammetry of U(VI)O(2)(saldien) in DMSO showed a quasireversible redox reaction without any successive reactions. The electron stoichiometry determined by the UV-vis-NIR spectroelectrochemical technique is close to 1, indicating that the reduction product of U(VI)O(2)(saldien) is [U(V)O(2)(saldien)](-), which is stable in DMSO. The standard redox potential of [U(V)O(2)(saldien)](-)/U(VI)O(2)(saldien) in DMSO is -1.584 V vs Fc/Fc(+). This U(V) complex shows the characteristic absorption bands due to f-f transitions in its 5f(1) configuration and charge-transfer from the axial oxygen to U(5+).

X-ray absorption fine structures of uranyl(V) complexes in a nonaqueous solution.

The structures of three different U(V) complexes, [U(V)O(2)(salophen)DMSO](-), [U(V)O(2)(dbm)(2)DMSO](-), and [U(V)O(2)(saldien)](-), in a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution were determined by X-ray absorption fine structure for the first time.

Complex formation and molecular structure of neptunyl(VI) and -(V) acetates.

Stability and coordination of neptunyl(VI) and -(V) acetate complexes in aqueous solution were studied by using UV-vis-near-IR (NIR) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy. In the neptunyl(VI) acetate system, the formation of Np(VI)O(2)(AcO)(+), Np(VI)O(2)(AcO)(2)(aq), and Np(VI)O(2)(AcO)(3)(-) was detected. Both spectroscopic methods provided similar stability constants: log K(1) = 2.98 +/- 0.01, log beta(2) = 4.60 +/- 0.01, and log beta(3) = 6.34 +/- 0.01 from UV-vis-NIR and log K(1) = 2.87 +/- 0.03, log beta(2) = 4.20 +/- 0.06, and log beta(3) = 6.00 +/- 0.01 from XAFS at I = 0.30 M (H,NH(4))ClO(4). Extended XAFS (EXAFS)-derived structural data for Np(VI)O(2)(2+)(aq), Np(VI)O(2)(AcO)(+), and Np(VI)O(2)(AcO)(3)(-) were consistent with their stoichiometry, showing a bidentate coordination of acetate (Np-O(ax) = 1.76-1.77 A; Np-O(eq) = 2.43-2.47 A; Np-C(c) = 2.87 A; Np-C(t) = 4.38 A). Similar to Np(VI), Np(V) forms also three different complexes with acetate. The stability constants of Np(V)O(2)(AcO)(aq), Np(V)O(2)(AcO)(2)(-), and Np(V)O(2)(AcO)(3)(2-) were determined by UV-vis-NIR titration to log K(1) = 1.93 +/- 0.01, log beta(2) = 3.11 +/- 0.01, and log beta(3) = 3.56 +/- 0.01 at I = 0.30 M (H,NH(4))ClO(4). The present result is corroborated by the structural information from EXAFS (Np-O(ax) = 1.83-1.85 A; Np-O(eq) = 2.51 A; Np-C(c) = 2.90-2.93 A) and by the electrochemical behavior of the Np(V/VI) redox couple in the presence of AcOH as a function of the pH.