Thorium and Thorium Compounds

Abstract

An overview is provided on thorium and thorium compounds with an emphasis on their relevance to chemical technology. The main interest in thorium is as a nuclear fuel, but thorium and its compounds have many specialty uses including lantern mantles and catalysts. Discussion on the occurrence, recovery, preparation, properties and radiochemistry of thorium is provided. While not intending to be exhaustive, a broad based review is provided on the coordination and organometallic complexes of thorium with halogens; N, P, and O donors; cyclopentadienyl; annulene; hydrocarbyl; and allyl ligands. A drawback to using thorium in many processes is the chemical reactivity of the metal as well as the inherent radioactivity of all thorium isotopes. As such, health and safety factors essential for working with thorium are discussed. General references from which more detailed information of the aforementioned subjects is provided.

Understanding the role of flux, pressure and temperature on polymorphism in ThB2O5

“…Traditional interest in thorium chemistry has been somewhat overshadowed by its f-block sister uranium, 2,3 however contemporary studies have unravelled significant applications and properties in the context of advanced functional material development, reinvigorating focus in the most naturally abundant actinide element. 4–6 Examples of such successes can be seen in nuclear waste separation technology, 7 a radiation detection 7 b and also MOF development.…”

“…With the motivation of understanding the structural chemistry and behavior of thorium borates under variable conditions a part of our general focus on exploring chemistry of actinide compounds, 2–9 we have examined the Th–B–O system towards expanding knowledge of it and ascertaining fundamental chemical insight. Herein, we report a new polymorph in the ThB 2 O 5 family, β-ThB 2 O 5 , from HT/HP conditions and examine the temperature and pressure relationship it has to the only other reported polymorph, 1 α, using experimental and theoretical methods.…”