Comparative XRPD and XAS study of the impact of the synthesis process on the electronic and structural environments of uranium–americium mixed oxides

Journal Article · Thu Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JSSC.2015.03.037· OSTI ID:22486784

Lebreton, F. ^[1]; Martin, P. M. ^[2]; Caisso, M. ^[1]; Butzbach, R. ^[3]; Somers, J. ^[4]; Delahaye, T. ^[1]

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1. CEA, DEN, DTEC/SDTC/LEMA, 30207 Bagnols-sur-Cèze cedex (France)
2. CEA, DEN, DEC/SESC/LLCC, 13108 Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance cedex (France)
3. Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiochemistry, P.O. Box 10119, 01314 Dresden (Germany)
4. European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Transuranium Elements, P.O. Box 2340, D-76125 Karlsruhe (Germany)

Uranium–americium mixed oxides are potential compounds to reduce americium inventory in nuclear waste via a partitioning and transmutation strategy. A thorough assessment of the oxygen-to-metal ratio is paramount in such materials as it determines the important underlying electronic structure and phase relations, affecting both thermal conductivity of the material and its interaction with the cladding and coolant. In 2011, various XAS experiments on U{sub 1−x}Am{sub x}O{sub 2±δ} samples prepared by different synthesis methods have reported contradictory results on the charge distribution of U and Am. This work alleviates this discrepancy. The XAS results confirm that, independently of the synthesis process, the reductive sintering of U{sub 1−x}Am{sub x}O{sub 2±δ} leads to the formation of similar fluorite solid solution indicating the presence of Am{sup +III} and U{sup +V} in equimolar proportions. - Graphical abstract: Formation of (U{sup IV/V},Am{sup III})O{sup 2} solid solution by sol–gel and by powder metallurgy. - Highlights: • Uranium–americium mixed oxides were synthesized by sol–gel and powder metallurgy. • Fluorite solid solutions with similar local environment have been obtained. • U{sup V} and Am{sup III} are formed in equimolar proportions.

• OSTI ID: 22486784
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Vol. 230; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2015 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0022-4596
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
AMERICIUM
AMERICIUM OXIDES
CHARGE DISTRIBUTION
CLADDING
COOLANTS
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
FLUORITE
PARTITION
POWDER METALLURGY
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SINTERING
SOLID SOLUTIONS
SYNTHESIS
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
TRANSMUTATION
URANIUM
URANIUM OXIDES
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY