Actinide Structural Chemistry

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the solid state structural chemistry of actinide materials as determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, single-crystal neutron diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, and powder neutron diffraction techniques. Since Burns’ chapter, Structural Chemistry, was published in the 1986 edition of this work, significant improvements in crystallographic technology and instrumentation have advanced the field of solid state chemistry. Some of the most dramatic changes have been in computer technology and software, making the data collection, reduction, and refinement processes highly automated and simplified. As a consequence, X-ray diffractometers have become nearly ubiquitous in research departments globally and neutron-scattering resources have become more advanced and accessible, resulting in the elucidation and publication of a greater number of additional actinide structures since the last edition; these structures are the focus for this chapter.