Volatile zirconium compounds: Prospects for use in gas-phase isotope separation

Abstract

Data on volatile zirconium(IV) complexes are considered from the viewpoint of search for compounds exhibiting the required thermal parameters for centrifugal separation of stable isotopes. The results of studies concerning thermodynamics of vaporization of volatile zirconium compounds with inorganic and organic ligands are summarized and analyzed. The influence of the electronic structure of the central atom and of the molecular and crystal structure on the volatility of zirconium compounds is discussed. Promising lines of searching for volatile zirconium compounds for the development of low-activation materials based on isotopically altered elements are outlined.