Theoretical study on the highest oxidation states of Pu


Theoretical study on the highest oxidation states of Pu

Tsushima, S.

It has been demonstrated recently that quantum chemical calculations can accurately perdict redox potentials of An(VI)/An(V) couples (An = U, Np, Pu, Am) if multireference effect and spin-orbit effects are treated properly [1,2]. The An(VI)/An(V) redox potentials obtained at the multireference CASPT2 level calculations with spin-orbit corrections were found to have fairly good agreement with those obtained by experiments.
Here, I extend such calculations to the higher oxidation states of actinide, namely Pu(VII) and Pu(VIII). Pu(VII) is known to be meta-stable in aqueous solution. Recently, Nikonov et al. have suggested that Pu(VIII) may be obtained by the ozonation of Pu(VI), although they were not able to find a direct evidence for the presence of Pu(VIII) [3]. The present work aims to discuss from a theoretical point of view whether or not Pu(VIII) may exist in water. Geometry optimizations and energy calculations of the complexes were performed at the B3LYP level, and spin-orbit effects were calculated separately at the CASSCF level.
The redox potential of the PuVIIIO4(OH)2 2-/ PuVIIO4(OH)2 3- couple was found to be as high as ~1.7V. At very high pH, Pu(VII) may exist as a penta-oxo complex, PuVIIO5(OH)4-. The redox potential of PuVIIIO5(OH)3-/ PuVIIO5(OH)4- couple was found to be ~1.3V. Spin-orbit effect was found to play a very important role for the total redox potential because the ground state energy lowering of Pu(VII) due to the spin-orbit splitting depends highly on the number of coordinating oxo ligands. The effect of coordinating ligands (OH-, CO3 2- etc.) and coordination number on the total redox potential was also studied. The calculations suggest that Pu(VIII) is unlikely to exist in both acidic and alkaline aqueous solutions, while Pu(VIII) may be present in non-aqueous solvents with a large redox window.

[1] Tsushima,S; Wahlgren, U.; Grenthe, I. J. Phys. Chem. A 2006, 110, 9175.
[2] Shamov, G.A.; Schreckenbach, G. J. Phys. Chem. A 2005, 109, 10961.
[3] Nikonov, M.V.; Gogolev, A.V.; Tananaev, I.G.; Myasoedov, B.F. Radiochemsitry 2004, 46, 340.

Keywords: Plutonium; quantum chemistry; redox potential

  • Lecture (Conference)
    Plutonium Futures "The Science" 2008, 07.-11.7.2008, Dijon, France

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Publ.-Id: 10992