Uranyl oxalate solid state structure

In the absence of chemical quenching, uranyl compounds have long luminescent lifetimes and high luminescent quantum efficiency [21]. Often, however, the excited state reacts chemically. The photochemistry of the ion, the most famous example of which is the uranyl oxalate actinometer, has generated an enormous body of work and been the subject of comprehensive reviews [22,23]. It can occur both in solution and in the solid state. The most common reaction is the oxidation of organic substrates. Both the photochemistry and the remarkable properties of the covalent bond, demand a satisfactory interpretation in terms of the electronic structure. 

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