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Published on: June 21, 2015
Nanosized Gadolinium and Uranium-Two Representatives of High-Reactivity Lanthanide and Actinide Metal Nanoparticles
Christian Schöttle1, Stefan Rudel2, Radian Popescu3
1Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Engesserstraße 15, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
Abstract:
Gadolinium (Gd0) and uranium (U0) nanoparticles are prepared via lithium naphthalenide ([LiNaph])-driven reduction in tetrahydrofuran (THF) using GdCl3 and UCl4, respectively, as low-cost starting materials. The as-prepared Gd0 and U0 suspensions are colloidally stable and contain metal nanoparticles with diameters of 2.5 ± 0.7 nm (Gd0) and 2.0 ± 0.5 nm (U0). Whereas THF suspensions are chemically stable under inert conditions (Ar and vacuum), nanoparticulate powder samples show high reactivity in contact with, for example, oxygen, moisture, alcohols, or halogens. Such small and highly reactive Gd0 and U0 nanoparticles are first prepared via a dependable liquid-phase synthesis and stand as representatives for further nanosized lanthanides and actinides.
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