For the first time, scientists have succeeded in revealing the basic properties of a mysterious radioactive substance called promethium, almost eight decades after its discovery. This rare earth element, discovered in 1945, is one of a group of elements that are particularly important in modern technology.
What is promethium?
the Promethium It is one of the fifteen lanthanide elements located at the bottom of the periodic table. Lanthanides, also known as rare earths, have unique properties such as strong magnetism and special optical properties.
Rare earths are used in many technological fields due to their exceptional properties. They play a crucial role in powering lasers, smartphone displays, and even the very powerful magnets found in wind turbines and electric vehicles. However, note that despite their names, some of them are not rare. On the other hand, they are often extracted and separated Complex and expensive.
A revolutionary study
The study of promethium has long been problematic, mainly because of its existence Radiant nature. This is because, unlike other elements, promethium does not have a stable isotope, which means it decays into other elements over time. This makes it difficult to obtain suitable samples for study. This rare element is generally produced by the fission process in nuclear reactors.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in the United States is the only American producer of this substance Promethium-147His counterpart, A Half-life 2.6 years. Using a newly developed method, researchers at the institution succeeded in separating this isotope from nuclear reactor waste to obtain the purest sample possible.
Next, the scientists combined the promethium sample with a molecule called a ligand, which is designed to trap metal atoms and thus form a compound that is stable in water. This coordination molecule, known as PyDGA, created nine bonds between promethium and oxygen, providing scientists with a unique opportunity to analyze the bonding properties of this element.
X-ray absorption spectroscopy
To analyze the properties of promethium, the researchers used an advanced and highly specialized technique called… X-ray absorption spectroscopy On the basis of synchrotron. This method uses high-energy photons, which are particles of light, generated by a particle accelerator, a complex machine that accelerates particles to extremely high speeds.
Specifically, X-ray absorption spectroscopy works by measuring how atoms in a sample absorb photons. When photons hit promethium atoms, they excite the electrons in those atoms, causing them to jump to higher energy levels. By analyzing the X-ray absorption pattern, scientists can then determine the exact location of atoms in the sample and measure the length of bonds between promethium atoms and other atoms, such as oxygen, in the complex that forms.
In other words, this method allows specific promethium ligands to be distinguished, even in the presence of other elements that could contaminate the sample. In this case, samarium, the element next to promethium on the periodic table, would likely intervene. However, thanks to the high resolution of X-ray absorption spectroscopy, scientists were able to rule out any samarium contamination, ensuring that The data collected comes exclusively from Promethium.
Discoveries and their effects
The data obtained from these analyzes allowed scientists to compare the properties of promethium with those of other elements in the lanthanide series. By understanding how promethium bonds with other atoms, especially oxygen, researchers can actually see how it compares to other lanthanides in terms of bond length, bond strength and chemical behavior.
This comparison is crucial, because rare earth elements often share similar properties, however Subtle differences can affect their use In various technological applications. For example, differences in the way elements are bonded can affect their magnetic or optical properties or their ability to catalyze chemical reactions. By completing a table of the chemical properties of lanthanides, scientists can better understand trends and periodic changes between these elements.
Understanding these properties of interconnection and coordination will help Develop new methods to separate these elements value in a more efficient way. Separating rare earth elements, which are often found together in ores, is often expensive and complex. Therefore, the information obtained from this study could lead to more efficient separation techniques that will reduce costs and improve extraction efficiency.
The discoveries made in this are not limited to the separation of rare earth elements. They can also pave the way for New applications for promethium and other lanthanides. For example, a better understanding of promethium chemistry may enable its use in new technologies or improve its current applications in atomic batteries and medical diagnostics.
Moreover, these developments could It sparked increased interest in the study of promethium and similar elementsThis encourages more researchers to explore these areas. This may lead to even more important discoveries that will enrich our understanding of rare earth chemistry and its potential applications.
In conclusion, capturing a clear picture of individual atoms behaving like waves represents a landmark achievement in the field of quantum physics. This astonishing achievement provides a visual demonstration of wave-particle duality, a fundamental concept at the heart of quantum mechanics. Using an innovative imaging technique, the researchers were able to directly observe the transition between the particle and wave states of atoms, paving the way for a deeper understanding of the quantum properties of matter.
Better knowledge of promethium's properties could also have major implications in the field of renewable energies. As a radioactive element, promethium-147 is already used in some applications such as nuclear batteries, providing a stable and sustainable source of energy. However, further research into its chemical and physical properties could make it possible to exploit this material more efficiently and sustainably. By improving promethium production and use processes, it will be possible to develop new energy technologies that are more environmentally friendly, thus enhancing the strategic importance of rare earths in the transition to clean energy sources.
