AES and XPS study of plutonium oxidation

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5673906

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 Ar/sup +/ bombardment and 500/sup 0/C-Ar/sup +/ bombardment heat cycles. Changes occurring in the plutonium Auger electron spectra in the energy range of 40 to 120 eV and the 4f/sub 5/2/, 4f/sub 7/2/ (core levels), and 5f, 7s (valence band) XPS peaks were monitored during oxygen exposure (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 and 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. By taking the Auger ratio (0(511 eV)/Pu(317 eV)), it was observed that oxidation proceeded by two steps. In the first step there was a rapid increase of oxygen with the formation of the suboxide. In the second stage, the 0(511 eV)/Pu(317 eV) ratio was constant with conversion of the suboxide to PuO/sub 2/.

• Research Organization: Atomics International Div., Golden, CO (USA). Rocky Flats Plant
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-3533
• OSTI ID: 5673906
• Report Number(s): RFP-2939; CONF-791013-11
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201 -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDES
ARGON
AUGER EFFECT
AUGER ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
BINDING ENERGY
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
HEAT TREATMENTS
METALS
NONMETALS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
RARE GASES
SPECTROSCOPY
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY