In-situ formation, thermal decomposition, and adsorption studies of transition metal carbonyl complexes with short-lived radioisotopes

We report on the in-situ synthesis of metal carbonyl complexes with short-lived isotopes of transition metals. Complexes of molybdenum, technetium, ruthenium and rhodium were synthesized by thermalisation of products of neutron-induced fission of Cf-249 in a carbon monoxide-nitrogen mixture. Complexes of tungsten, rhenium, osmium, and iridium were synthesized by thermalizing short-lived isotopes produced in 24 Mg-induced fusion evaporation reactions in a carbon monoxide containing atmosphere. The chemical reactions took place at ambient temperature and pressure conditions. The complexes were rapidly transported in a gas stream to collection setups or gas phase chromatography devices. The physisorption of the complexes on Au and SiO2 surfaces was studied. We also studied the stability of some of the complexes, showing that these start to decompose at temperatures above 300 degrees C in contact with a quartz surface. Our studies lay a basis for the investigation of such complexes with transactinides.