Local and Nanoscale Structure and Speciation in the PuO{sub 2+x-y}(OH){sub 2y} {center_dot}zH{sub 2}O System
Pu L3 X-ray absorption fine structure spectra from 24 samples of PuO{sub 2+x} (and two related Pu substituted oxides), prepared by a variety of methods, demonstrate that (1) although the Pu sublattice remains the ordered part of the Pu distribution, the nearest-neighbor O atoms even at x = 0 are found in a multisite distribution with Pu-O distances consistent with the stable incorporation of OH{sup -} (and possibly H{sub 2}O and H{sup +}) into the PuO{sub 2} lattice; (2) the excess O from oxidation is found at Pu-O distances <1.9 {angstrom}, consistent with the multiply bound ''oxo''-type ligands found in molecular complexes of Pu(V) and Pu(VI); (3) the Pu associated with these oxo groups is most likely Pu(V), so that the excess O probably occurs as PuO{sub 2}{sup +} moieties that are aperiodically distributed through the lattice; and (4) the collective interactions between these defect sites most likely cause them to cluster so as give nanoscale heterogeneity in the form of domains that may have unusual reactivity, observed as sequential oxidation by H{sub 2}O at ambient conditions. The most accurate description of PuO{sub 2} is therefore actually PuO{sub 2+x-y}(OH){sub 2y} {center_dot} zH{sub 2}O, with pure, ordered, homogeneous PuO{sub 2} attained only when H{sub 2}O is rigorously excluded and the O activity is relatively low.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 15016259
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-43567; JACSAT; KP1301020; TRN: US0502119
- Journal Information:
- Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 126, Issue 41; Other Information: PBD: 26 Sep 2004; ISSN 0002-7863
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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