Spectroscopic Investigation of the Photochemistry of Uranyl-Doped Sol−Gel Glasses Immersed in Ethanol

• Published in: Inorganic chemistry Vol. 35; no. 26; pp. 7786 - 7790
• Main Authors: Dai, Sheng, Metcalf, D. H, Del Cul, G. D, Toth, L. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Chemical Society 18.12.1996
• ISSN: 0020-1669; 1520-510X
• DOI: 10.1021/ic9604066

Uranyl ion (UO2 2+) has been doped in silica glasses through a sol−gel process. The photochemistry of UO2 2+-doped glasses immersed in ethanol solution has been investigated. Our experimental results indicate that UO2 2+ in this system can be photochemically converted to U(IV) species, and evidence is provided for the possible formation of U(IV) species via a subsequent chemical reduction of the intermediate UO2 + instead of the conventional bimolecular disproportionation reaction. The latter mechanism is known to be a dominant mechanism for the photochemical reactions in homogeneous solutions.