UF5
uranium pentafluoride · uranium(V) fluoride
Uranium pentafluoride is a stable, semiconducting compound of uranium and fluorine used in nuclear fuel research and chemical processing.

About uranium pentafluoride
Uranium pentafluoride is a binary fluoride of uranium that exhibits semiconducting electronic properties. As a thermodynamically stable phase located on the convex hull, it represents a significant chemical state for uranium in fluorine-rich environments. Its structural diversity is highlighted by numerous reported configurations across major materials databases, reflecting its complex behavior under varying conditions. This compound serves as a critical subject for understanding the chemistry of actinide fluorides, which are essential for advanced nuclear fuel processing and isotope separation technologies. Its stability and electronic nature make it a focal point for researchers investigating the fundamental interactions within the uranium-fluorine system.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for uranium pentafluoride, aggregated across 3 databases.
Band GapEnergy needed to move an electron from the valence band to the conduction band. Lower or zero values tend to behave more metallic; larger gaps are more insulating or semiconducting.
Energy Above HullThermodynamic distance from the most stable set of competing phases. 0 eV/atom is on the convex hull; small positive values may still be experimentally accessible.
StabilityA plain-language summary of the best reported energy-above-hull result. It reflects whether the lowest-energy structure is on, near, or far from the stability hull.
StructuresCount of reported calculated crystal structures for this formula, including alternate polymorphs, source databases, and observed space groups.
Applications
Where uranium pentafluoride is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about uranium pentafluoride, answered from cross-validated data.
What is UF5?
Uranium pentafluoride is a stable, semiconducting compound of uranium and fluorine used in nuclear fuel research and chemical processing.
What is UF5 used for?
What is the band gap of UF5?
Is UF5 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is UF5 thermodynamically stable?
How many polymorphs of UF5 are known?
What elements does UF5 contain?
Where does the data for UF5 come from?
How It Compares
As a distinct binary fluoride, uranium pentafluoride occupies a unique position in actinide chemistry, serving as a vital intermediate in the transition between lower and higher oxidation states of uranium. Unlike more common uranium fluorides, this compound provides a specific electronic profile that is essential for specialized chemical synthesis and nuclear material characterization.
Data sources & attribution
- latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform
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