The Controlled Synthesis of Uranium Materials for Application in Energy Science

该博士项目将开发含贫铀（DU）的功能材料的化学，用于低碳能源技术，例如太阳能电池的半导体和电动机的磁铁。来自有机金属前体的化学气相沉积（CVD）技术在镧系材料科学中非常成功。相比之下，迄今为止只有2个DU化合物的CVD实例。该项目建立在该小组以前未发表的关于一类新化合物的工作基础上，即镧系元素六氟乙酰丙酮（hfac）系列的DU类似物[Ln（hfac）3（二甘醇二甲醚）]。显示了[U（hfac）3（二甘醇二甲醚）]的X射线结构。U（III）和U（IV）的络合物都是可获得的，并且对空气和水分具有显着的挥发性和稳定性，使其成为CVD的理想选择。该项目最初将侧重于通过金属有机物和气溶胶辅助化学气相沉积从有机金属前体中控制（氧化还原和相）沉积贫铀氧化物。将研究固态合成后改性，以设计不同应用的材料性能。实验、技术和光谱知识将反馈到第二代前体设计（包括主族元素）和更具挑战性和战略性的混合氧化物、非氧化物和多金属材料靶的合成中。

This PhD project will develop the chemistry of functional materials containing depleted uranium (DU) for application in low-carbon energy technologies e.g. semiconductors for solar cells and magnets for electric motors. Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) techniques from organometallic precursors have been very successful in lanthanide materials science. In contrast, to-date there are only 2 examples of CVD of DU compounds. This project builds on previous unpublished work in the group on a new class of compounds, the DU analogues of the lanthanide hexafluoroacetylacetonate (hfac) series, [Ln(hfac)3(diglyme)]. The X-ray structure of [U(hfac)3(diglyme)] is shown. Complexes of both U(III) and U(IV) are accessible and possess both remarkable volatility and stability to air and moisture, making them ideal for CVD. The project will initially focus on the controlled (redox and phase) deposition of DU oxides from organometallic precursors by Metal Organic and Aerosol Assisted CVD. Post-synthetic modification in the solid state will be studied to engineer material properties for different applications. Experimental, technical and spectroscopic know-how will then feedback into 2nd generation precursor design (including main group elements) and the synthesis of more challenging and strategic mixed-oxide, non-oxide and multi-metallic material targets.