Low-Temperature Synthesis of Actinide Tetraborides by Solid-State Metathesis Reactions

摘要: The synthesis of actinide tetraborides including uranium tetraboride (UB,), plutonium (PUB,) and thorium (ThB{sub 4}) by a solid-state metathesis reaction are demonstrated. present method significantly lowers the temperature required to {approx_equal}850 C. As an example, when UCl{sub 4}, is reacted with excess MgB{sub 2}, at 850 C, crystalline UB, formed. Powder X-ray diffraction ICP-AES data support reduction 3}, as initial step in reaction. product purified washing water drying.