Nuclear chemistry articles from across Nature Portfolio

Gas-phase actinium monofluoride (AcF) has been produced and spectroscopically studied at the CERN-ISOLDE radioactive ion beam facility; the results highlight the potential of ²²⁷AcF for exceptionally sensitive searches of CP violation.

The structural flexibility of langbeinite-type structures to host different cations makes them suitable candidates for the formation of multicomponent actinide nuclear waste forms, but this approach remains underexplored. Here, the authors use an optimized high-temperature molten salt method to synthesize a series of single crystals of Cs₂U^ⅣLn(PO₄)₃ (Ln = Ce – Nd and Sm – Lu) that can simultaneously immobilize U, Ln, and Cs with enhanced leaching resistance.

Molten salts have promising applications in clean energy technologies, but the hazards and dynamics of these systems complicate their chemical analysis. This year, exciting developments in equipment design and simulation accuracy and efficiency have brought these materials closer than ever to application.

Targeted alpha therapy (TAT) is a growing field in medicinal chemistry owing to the ability of alpha particles to selectively deliver radiation to tumour cells. In the past year, these research efforts have resulted in clinical trials in TAT using ²²⁵Ac, ²¹²Pb, ²²³Ra, and ²¹¹At as alpha emitters.

A berkelium metallocene complex was isolated and structurally characterized for the first time. These findings elevate our understanding of chemical bonding and inform on the future design of f-element quantum materials.

A method for real-time α-particle tracking of emissions produced from Ac-225 has been developed, previously unachievable using film-based tracking. This system’s compatibility with radiotherapeutic research techniques could benefit targeted alpha therapy treatment regimes.

Availability of convenient starting materials is critical to advance actinide research. Here, we highlight four contributions published in 2024 which have aided the development of new starting materials for various fields, from materials chemistry to organometallic synthesis.

Gas-adsorption chromatography has been used to study how the superheavy elements nihonium and moscovium interact with surfaces and understand the influence of relativistic effects experienced by their valence electrons. Comparisons are made to closed-shell neighbours, copernicium and flerovium, as well as light homologues, thallium and bismuth.