Time-resolved
laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) has been employed to provide
information on the complexation of various actinide species, particularly
hexavalent uranium and trivalent curium compounds. Quantitative
analysis of curium compounds has proven successful at very dilute
concentrations, reported as low as 1 x 10-9
M. Due to curium’s strong f-f electronic transition and
subsequent vibronic relaxation, these compounds have relatively
simple spectra that are easy to interpret. These attributes have
made TRLFS a very practical choice in the study of various curium
compounds.
Currently,
I am studying curium's hydrolysis products at various ionic strengths
to refine calculations previously reported in the literature.
My next study will focus on the complexation of curium with simple
carboxylic acids of varying chain length to determine lifetimes
for calculation of stability constants. Environmental factors,
such as pH and ionic strength, will also be varied to advance
our understanding of a given model system. |
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