Presentation
Group of Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry
The Group of Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry(IOC) investigates the synthesis, characterisation and chemical reactivity of inorganic, organometallic and intermetallic compounds of the actinides and the lanthanides, with the purpose of understanding the influence of the electronic structure and the size of the f-elements in the chemical behaviour of their compounds.
Gas-phase chemistry studies of the ions of these elements and studies of the energetics of these compounds are also performed with the same goal. Catalysis studies are carried out in addition to the reactivity studies in an effort to obtain new applications for the lanthanide and actinide compounds.
1. Main Activities
Runninf Projects
- Synthesis and characterisation of inorganic and organometallic compounds of the f-block elements: Compounds with new coordination environments for the f-elements are synthesised with two purposes: to create new reactive centres with unusual reactivity patterns and to explore the abilities of new ligands in Ln/An separations.
- Surface organometallic chemistry: The objectives of this activity are the synthesis and immobilization of organometallic complexes on solid matrices, for example POSS or zeolites, to obtain well-characterised species, and the study of their behaviour as heterogenised catalysts, very selective and modulatable.
- Reactivity and catalysis: The main objective is the investigation of the reactivity of inorganic, organometallic and intermetallic compounds through stoichiometric reactions and via catalytic studies in homogeneous and heterogeneous phases. Examples of the principal activities are the study of the oxidative coupling of methane using carbon dioxide as oxidising agent (production of C2 hydrocarbons) and the study of the catalytic decomposition of volatile organic compounds (activity under development). The search for alternatives to the use of highly toxic raw materials by the industry, for example the replacement of phosgene by dimethylcarbonate in many industrial applications, also fostered the use of carbon dioxide and methanol as starting reagents.
- Molecular energetics: The research is centred in the knowledge of the energy of molecules. In condensed phase, a large variety of molecules, ranging from organometallic compounds of uranium to alkaline-metal alkoxides, have been studied. In the gas phase, the thermochemistry of actinide oxides and the acidity of substituted phenols have been studied by FT-ICR mass spectrometry. Special attention has also been given to the development of methods to predict thermodynamic properties.
- Gas-phase chemistry of actinide and lanthanide ions: The gas-phase reactivity of actinide and lanthanide ions with organic and inorganic molecules is studied in order to obtain kinetic, mechanistic and energetic information that can be correlated with the electronic structure of the ions and compared with data from condensed phases. The work has been based on the use of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR/MS), a technique that is particularly appropriate to the study of the chemistry of ion/molecule systems in the gas phase.
Other activities
- Glass science and its applications in the vitrification of radioactive waste, in archaeometry and in artistic studies: In this line of activity, studies are being performed in radioactive waste vitrification. Provenance studies of portuguese glass in collaboration with Museu do Vidro da Marinha Grande are also being made. It should be noted that archaeological glass can provide useful information on the processes of corrosion of glass. Another area of investigation is the development of new glass materials for applications in contemporary art, namely fluorescent glass with lanthanide oxides and dichroic glass.
- Radiation technologies with applications in pharmacopoeia and environment: Collaborative studies are being performed on the development of new biomaterials for applications in medicine. There is also a collaboration headed by the Radiation Technologies Group (Physics Sector) in a study of the effect of gamma radiation on different wastewater sources.
- Treatment of plastic waste: In this project, supported by Plastval/Sociedade Ponte Verde, the treatment of plastic waste with molten metals is under study. By catalytic decomposition CO, CO2 and H2 are obtained. The efficiency of the process in the treatment of non-treated plastic and of plastic that cannot be recycled by conventional methods is being investigated. This study, apart from having a direct application in plastic recycling, has also the purpose of designing a system that is capable of treating low-activity radioactive waste.
- An important part of the work of the group has been the training of research students. Some of the memebers of the group are involved in university courses at the graduation and post-graduation levels. 11 PhD, 4 MSc and 14 Graduation theses have been obtained in the Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry Group since its formation in 1980. 13 grantees and 2 post-doc have also worked in the group.
2. Equipment and Infrastructures
Main infrastructures are the following:
- Synthesis Laboratories for Lanthanides and Actinides Compounds (Torium e Uranium)
- Actinide Chemistry Laboratory
- Synthesis Laboratory for Metallic Vapours
- Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry Laboratory (FT-ICR)
- Catalysis Laboratory
- Laboratory of Calorimetry and Thermal Analysis
3. Technical Services
Specialized analysis.