XAS study of murataite-based ceramics and crystalline film of ThO2

The local environment of thorium in murataite ceramics (Al,Ca,Ti,Mn,Fe,Zr,Th)O_x and ThO₂(001) crystalline film on Si(100) substrate as a reference was explored by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) for the first time. It was found that Th⁴⁺ is located in the center of a cube formed by 8 oxygen atoms [r(Th–O) = 2.37 ± 0.03 Å] in murataite ceramics and ThO₂ film. The Th⁴⁺ second coordination sphere [r(Th–M) ≈ 3.5 Å] in murataite is represented by 3d metals: titanium, iron or manganese