Hybrid uranyl–vanadium nano-wheels

Abstract

Hybrid uranyl–vanadium oxide clusters intermediate between transition metal polyoxometalates and uranyl peroxide cage clusters were obtained by dissolving uranyl nitrate in the ionic liquid 3-ethyl-1-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate mixed with an aqueous solution containing vanadium. Where sulfate was present, wheel-shaped {U₂₀V₂₀} crystallized and contains ten sulfate tetrahedra, and in the absence of added sulfate, {U₂V₁₆}, a derivative of {V₁₈}, was obtained.