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Title: Microstructural characterization of the fluorite phase in the U-La-O system. I. Rhombohedral microdomain formation in (U sub 1 minus y La sub y )O sub 2+x , 0. 56 le y le 0. 67

Journal Article · · Journal of Solid State Chemistry; (USA)

A series of hyperstoichiometric, stoichiometric, and hypostoichiometric U-La mixed oxides with fluorite-type structures has been prepared in air at 1,673 K in the composition range (U{sub 1{minus}y}La{sub y})O{sub 2{plus minus}x}, 0.33 {le} {le} 0.67, by a mixed organic precursor/ceramic procedure. The oxidation state of uranium in these materials has been examined by XPS and near FT-IR spectroscopy, uranium ions existing within each sample either as U{sup 5+} and U{sup 6+} (0.33 {le} y {le} 0.50) or U{sup 6+} and U{sup 4+} (0.56 {le} y {le} 0.67). Electron diffraction studies reveal two sets of patterns with diffuse scattering phenomena depending on composition. The diffuse scattering for specimens with 0.56 {le} y {le} 0.67 is discussed in terms of microdomain formation of a rhombohedral R{sub III} phase, that is obtained as a single phase when samples with these compositions were annealed at 1,373 K for 100 hr.

OSTI ID:
6446982
Journal Information:
Journal of Solid State Chemistry; (USA), Vol. 87:2; ISSN 0022-4596
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English