AES and XPS study of plutonium oxidation

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · J. Vac. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.570503· OSTI ID:5458418

Larson, D T

The initial oxidation of plutonium metal at 27/sup 0/C has been studied using AES and XPS. Initially a ''clean'' plutonium surface was prepared by prolonged Ar/sup +/ bombardment followed by 500/sup 0/C anneal and Ar/sup +/ bombardment cleaning cycles. Changes occurring in the plutonium Auger electron spectra in the energy range of 40--120 eV and the 4f/sub 5/2/, 4f/sub 7/2/ (core levels), and valence band XPS peaks were monitored during oxygen exposures of 10 to 1.8 x 10/sup 8/L. Examination of the 4f/sub 7/2/ level revealed two oxidation states which are attributed to a suboxide an PuO/sub 2/. The 4f/sub 7/2/ binding energies for the two oxidation states and plutonium metal are 426.1, 424.4, and 422.2 eV, respectively. It was observed that oxidation proceeded in two steps. In the first step there was a rapid reaction of oxygen with the formation of a suboxide. In the second stage, the uptake of oxygen leveled off with conversion of the suboxide to PuO/sub 2/.

• Research Organization: Rockwell International, Rocky Flats Plant, Golden, Colorado 80401
• OSTI ID: 5458418
• Journal Information: J. Vac. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Vac. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 17:1; ISSN JVSTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360105* -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
ACTINIDES
ANNEALING
ARGON IONS
AUGER ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
BINDING ENERGY
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLLISIONS
DIFFUSION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
HEAT TREATMENTS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IONS
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
METALS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN IONS
PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
PLUTONIUM
RADIATIONS
SPECTROSCOPY
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
ULTRAHIGH VACUUM
X RADIATION