Heavy Element Photophysics and Photochemistry

Uranyl Fluoride Luminescence

The figure below show a sample cell that contains an aqueous solution of uranyl ions in hydrofluoric acid. In the left-hand image, the cell was illuminated by visible light. In the right-hand image, the cell was illuminated by ultraviolet (UV) light. The UV light is strongly absorbed by uranyl fluoride complexes and promotes them to an electronically excited state. These excited state complexes emit light throughout the visible spectral range. Because of the spectral sensitivity of the human eye and the luminescence spectrum of uranyl fluoride complexes, the emitted light appears yellow-green to the eye. However, visible light illumination of the sample cell excites very little yellow-green luminescence because only deep blue or shorter wavelengths of light are absorbed by uranyl fluoride complexes and promote them to an excited electronic state that can emit light. The intense luminescence of uranyl fluorides excited by ultraviolet light may serve as the basis for high sensitivity detection of leaking uranium hexafluoride cylinders. It already has proven very useful in our work on speciating uranyl fluoride complexes in aqueous solution.

Return to Heavy Element Photophysics and Photochemistry

Glassblowing

Interfacial Processes

Radiation and Photochemistry

Photosynthesis
Biological Materials Growth Facility

Cluster Studies

Chemical Dynamics

Atomic Physics

Nanophotonics

Heavy Elements

Coordination Chemistry

f-Electron Interactions

Actinide Facility

Computational Materials and Electrochemical Processes