Actinide chemistry is explored in both solution and gas phases, which provides insight into key phenomena such as complexation, solvation, hydrolysis and oxidation/reduction from complementary perspectives. Solution studies address properties under realistic conditions, providing a basis to develop empirical models for the prediction and control of actinide behavior. Gas-phase results for simple systems present the opportunity to reveal intrinsic properties that can be accurately simulated by ab initio computations. The juncture of these two approaches provides a unique opportunity to understand and control actinide chemistry at a molecular level.
Resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy (RXES) from alpha-plutonium as an example of a delocalized actinide intermetallic. [C. Booth et al., J. Electron. Spect. Relat. Phenom. 194, 57 (2014); Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 109, 10205 (2012)].