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Title: Synthesis and characterization of several cesium zirconates and a study of their relevance to fission-product chemistry

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:5571937

Investigations of the reaction of Csl with excess ZrO/sub 2/ in various containers at 400-850/sup 0/C have successfully demonstrated the formation of Zrl/sub 4/ and Cs/sub 2/ZrO/sub 3/ in low yields (< 35%) based upon the analytical evidence from X-ray fluorescence and atomic absorption techniques. To further investigate the chemistry, macroscopic amounts of the cesium zirconates have been synthesized from reactions of Cs-Zr-O/sub 2/ in silver crucibles or of Cs-CsO/sub 2/-ZrO/sub 2/ and CsO/sub 2/-Zr in welded silver tubing at 600-750/sup 0/C for one to two weeks. These reactions have produced four new compounds: Cs/sub 2/ZrO/sub 3/ and Cs/sub 4/ZrO/sub 4/ each in 95-100% yield, and two evidently ZrO/sub 2/-richer cesium zirconates of unknown composition and structure in 40-50% yield. The crystal structures of the first two phases have been solved by single crystal methods, and the crystal structures are reported. The thermal stabilities of Cs/sub 2/ZrO/sub 3/ and Cs/sub 4/ZrO/sub 4/ have been investigated both in vacuo and in sealed silver containers. The compounds Cs/sub 2/ZrO/sub 3/ and Cs/sub 4/ZrO/sub 4/ decompose into Cs/sub 2/O and ZrO/sub 2/ or Cs/sub 2/ZrO/sub 3/ at near 915/sup 0/C and 260-280/sup 0/C under high vacuum, whereas in sealed silver containers they are stable to above 900/sup 0/C and to 730 +/- 20/sup 0/C, respectively. The relevance of the formation and properties of these zirconates to the distribution of fission products is also discussed.

Research Organization:
Iowa State Univ. of Science and Technology, Ames (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-82
OSTI ID:
5571937
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English