Solid-state syntheses and single-crystal characterizations of three tetravalent thorium and uranium silicates.

Colorless crystals of ThSiO 4 (huttonite) ( 1 ) and (Ca 0.5 Na 0.5 ) 2 NaThSi 8 O 20 ( 2 ) have been synthesized by the solid-state reactions of ThO 2 , CaSiO 3 , and Na 2 WO 4 at 1073 K. Green crystals of (Ca 0.5 Na 0.5 ) 2 NaUSi 8 O 20 ( 3 ) have been synthesized by the solid-state reactions of UO 2 , CaSiO 3 , and Na 2 WO 4 at 1003 K. All three compounds have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 adopts a monazite-type three-dimensional condensed structure, which is built from edge- and corner-shared ThO 9 polyhedra and SiO 4 tetrahedra. Compounds 2 and 3 are isostructural and they crystallize in a steacyite-type structure. The structure consists of discrete pseudocubic [Si 8 O 20 ] 8− polyanions, which are connected by An 4+ cations into a three-dimensional framework. Each An atom coordinates to eight monodentate [Si 8 O 20 ] 8− moieties in a square antiprismatic geometry. Na + and Ca 2+ ions reside in the void within the framework. Raman spectra of 1 , 2 , and 3 were collected on single crystal samples. 1 displays more complex vibrational bands than thorite. Raman spectra of 2 and 3 are analogous with most of vibrational bands located at almost the same regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]