To Study Radioactive Neptunium and Plutonium, Researchers Establish a Novel Chemistry
Department of Energy, Office of ScienceNeptunium and plutonium are harder to oxidize than uranium, making them more difficult to study. To address this challenge, scientists have designed donor ligands—molecules that contribute electron density to metal centers, stabilizing the metals as they become more electron-poor. This will aid in studies of the structure and behavior of unusual complexes of cerium, uranium, and neptunium.