Stabilization of Francium Materials Using Cluster Compounds*

We present a Quantum Mechanical study of cluster compounds Fr_l X_mY_n and Ra_l X_mY_n (X, Y = other; 0 =< l, m, n =< 10). Half-life λ of the most stable isotope of francium (²²³Fr) is 22 minutes, and only 20–30 g of the element exists naturally at any given time. The melting point, the boiling point, and density of Fr are uncertain. Isotopes of radium are radioactive, but the most stable isotope ²²⁶Ra has a half-life of 1600 yr. The stabilization of radium is known to have been experimentally achieved, using a solution in which an effluent and a metal chloride are mixed, then the previously obtained mixture reacted with a sulfate ion, to obtain effluent containing stabilized radium. The chloride can be a barium, strontium or lead chloride. We are looking to see if there are similar trends, in properties, for francium. So far, we have achieved a factor of 2.7 stabilization for some of the francium cluster compounds, compared to bare Fr in our calculations. There is the possibility of application of a stabilized Fr material as a catalyst promoter, or a remover of oxygen from vacuum tubes and light bulbs, or in atomic clocks, or in petroleum exploration, analogous to the practical uses of Cs.