Ground state vibrational levels of zinc uranyl acetate

Abstract

Abstract The vibrational levels in the ground state of zinc uranyl acetate [Zn(UO2)2(CH3)COO)6·H2O] have been established for the first time from the investigations of Raman, infrared and fluorescence spectra of the compound and the fluorescence spectrum has been analysed on the basis of these vibrational frequencies. The Raman spectrum has been obtained with a helium-neon laser as the excitation source. The infrared absorption spectrum has been recorded by both Nujol mull and potassium bromide disc techniques. The fluorescence spectrum has been photographed with powder samples of the compound at liquid air temperature. Besides the uranyl frequencies, eleven fundamentals due to the acetate ion and three fundamentals due to the crystal lattice have been obtained in the infrared and fluorescence spectra. Good agreement has been obtained between the values of the various fundamental frequencies from the different investigations. The interpretation given for the fluorescence spectrum confirms the analysis proposed by Dieke and Duncan involving a single electronic transition from the lowest excited state of the uranyl ion to the various vibrational levels of the ground state.