Mild Hydrothermal Crystal Growth of Two Luminescing Uranyl Phosphates Exhibiting an Autunite-Type Sheet Structure

Author(s)

Gopabandhu Panigrahi, University of South CarolinaFollow
Mark D. Smith, University of South CarolinaFollow
Hans Conrad zur Loye, University of South CarolinaFollow

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Two new layered uranyl phosphate compounds, K(UO₂)PO₄(H₂O)₃ and Na(UO₂)PO₄(H₂O)_1.52, crystallizing in an autunite-type sheet structure, were successfully synthesized as both single-crystals and polycrystalline powders under mild hydrothermal conditions. The compound K(UO2)PO4(H2O)3 crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system with the space group P4/ncc, exhibiting lattice parameters of a = b = 6.99320(7) Å and c = 17.8389(3) Å. Similarly, Na(UO₂)PO₄(H₂O)_1.52 also crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system, however, in the space group P4/nmm and exhibits lattice parameters of a = b = 6.9787 Å and c = 8.6303(17) Å. Both compounds adopt layered structures, a characteristic feature of uranyl phosphates, and exhibit intense green fluorescence typical for uranyl-containing materials. The infrared spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and scintillation properties of these compounds were investigated.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.cgd.5c00292

Publication Info

Published in Crystal Growth and Design, Volume 25, Issue 9, 2025, pages 3229-3237.

Rights

© 2025 American Chemical Society

APA Citation

Smith, & zur Loye (2025). Mild Hydrothermal Crystal Growth of Two Luminescing Uranyl Phosphates Exhibiting an Autunite-Type Sheet Structure. Crystal Growth and Design, 25(9), 3229–3237. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.cgd.5c00292