The Crystal Structures and Powder Diffraction Patterns of the Uranium Tellurides: A Critical Review

Abstract

AbstractA critical review of all the reported structures and powder diffraction patterns in the uranium telluride system has been undertaken. Our recommendations are:1. Structures that are correct:• Cubic – UTe: no experimental pattern exists. Retain calculated 15–865.• Cubic – U3Te4: retain poor quality 12-610 but adopt the pattern calculated here.• Cubic U2Te3: no experimental pattern exists. Adopt pattern calculated here.• Orthorhombic UTe2: Adopt the new pattern of Boehme et al.• Monoclinic αUTe3: Adopt the new pattern of Boehme et al.• Orthorhombic βUTe3: Adopt the pattern calculated here.• Orthorhombic UTe5: Adopt the new pattern of Boeheme et al.2. Structures in need of refinement:• Orthorhombic U2Te3: Adopt pattern calculated here over 34-807.• Hexagonal U7Te12: Adopt pattern calculated here but retain 24-1368.• Orthorhombic UTe1.78: Adopt pattern calculated here and retain our modified 21-1404 reported for U4Te7.• Orthorhombic UTe2.5: Adopt pattern calculated here.• Orthorhombic UTe3.4: Accept recent pattern of Boehme et al.3. Phases for which no structures or reliable patterns exist:• Orthorhombic U3Te4: no published pattern.• Tetragonal U3Te5: three patterns 21-1407, 34-766 and 34-896 exist but all are of very poor quality.4. Phases which probably do not exist:• Tetragonal UTe1.77• Tetragonal UTe2• Cubic UTe2• U3Te7 (21-1402)• U3Te8 (21-1406)