Plutonium(III) oxide
Plutonium oxide is an inorganic compound of plutonium and oxygen with the chemical formula. This is a sesquioxide of plutonium and is a lower oxide compared to the more common plutonium dioxide.
Synthesis
The cubic modification of the compound is formed by thermal dissociation of plutonium dioxide:The hexagonal modification is formed during the reduction of plutonium dioxide with metallic plutonium:
Physical properties
The compound forms black crystals of cubic system, space group I ''a3.The compound also forms crystals of hexagohal system, space group P'' 3m1.