The need for high-purity lanthanide (Ln<sup>3+</sup>) materials has been an emerging trend, vital for a variety of energy and nation security applications and typically difficult to separate efficiently. We have developed a series of 2,9-bis-lactam-1,10-phenanthroline (BLPhen) ligands that exhibit high selectivity for the extraction of adjacent, light lanthanides by exploiting a unique binding pocket that allows the larger ionic size of the light lanthanides to easily bind relative to heavier lanthanides. However, the nanoscale structure of these organic-phase complexes is still not well understood. We combine element specific X-ray absorption spectroscopy for local structure evaluation with X-ray scattering for quantification of the nanoscale structure to develop a more complete understanding of these Ln<sup>3+</sup>–ligand aggregates within both solution and solid extraction phases. Understanding this parameter space is critical to developing novel extraction materials for lanthanide purification.

Probing structure of lanthanide–ligand extractants through X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray scattering

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.