Nanostructures in Uranium Oxocompounds

摘要

Examples of uranium-oxide-based nanostructures are considered, including 2D organic-inorganic nanocomposites and nanotubules. In nanocomposites, interfacial interactions between organic and inorganic substructures can be studied by charge-density matching principle. Application of this principle to uranyl compounds requires special attention since surface area of uranyl-based 2D units is higher than that of other inorganic oxysalts units (i.e. metal phosphates). The charge-density matching principle is, however, observed either through tail interdigitation (for long-chain monoamines) or incorporation of acid-water interlayers into organic substructure (for long-chain diamines). In some compounds, protonated amine molecules form cylindrical micelles that involves self-assembly governed by competing hydrophobic/hydrophillic interactions. The flexible inorganic complexes present in the reaction mixture could then form around cylindrical micelles to produce highly undulated 2D sheets or nanotubules.