Synthesis and Study of Americium Intermetallides with Gold.

Samples of 241Am alloys with gold were synthesized for the first time. The alloys were obtained by the condensation of americium metal vapor on a flat gold substrate. The results of X-ray analysis of the phase composition of the obtained alloys are presented. Previously unknown intermetallic compounds of Am with Au were discovered: AmAu6 (tetragonal lattice, space group P42/ncm), AmAu (orthorhombic lattice, space group Pnma), AmAu (face-centered cubic lattice). The parameters of these crystal lattices were calculated. The effect of 241Am α-decay on the crystal structures of intermetallic compounds was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]