Nanoscale Spatially Resolved Mapping of Uranium Enrichment

Kautz, Elizabeth; Burkes, Douglas; Joshi, Vineet; Lavender, Curt; Devaraj, Arun

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-48479-5

Title: Nanoscale Spatially Resolved Mapping of Uranium Enrichment

Journal Article · 23 August 2019 · Scientific Reports

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-48479-5 · OSTI ID:1619551

Kautz, Elizabeth ^[1]; Burkes, Douglas ^[1]; Joshi, Vineet ^[2]; Lavender, Curt ^[2];

^[3]

Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). National Security Directorate
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Energy and Environment Directorate
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate

Spatially resolved analysis of uranium (U) isotopes in small volumes of actinide-bearing materials is critical for a variety of technical disciplines, including earth and planetary sciences, environmental monitoring, bioremediation, and the nuclear fuel cycle. However, achieving subnanometer-scale spatial resolution for such isotopic analysis is currently a challenge. By using atom probe tomography—a three-dimensional nanoscale characterisation technique—we demonstrate unprecedented nanoscale mapping of U isotopic enrichment with high sensitivity across various microstructural interfaces within small volumes (~100 nm³) of depleted and low-enriched U alloyed with 10 wt% molybdenum that has different nominal enrichments of 0.20 and 19.75% ²³⁵U, respectively. We map enrichment in various morphologies of a U carbide phase, the adjacent $$γ$$-UMo matrix, and across interfaces (e.g., carbide/matrix, grain boundary). Results indicate the U carbides were formed during casting, rather than retained from either highly enriched or depleted U feedstock materials. The approach presented here can be applied to study nanoscale variations of isotopic abundances in the broad class of actinide-bearing materials, providing unique insights into their origins and thermomechanical processing routes.

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Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1619551

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1562527

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA-139895; TRN: US2000753

Journal Information:: Scientific Reports, Vol. 9, Issue 1; ISSN 2045-2322

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Citation Metrics:

Cited by: 14 works

Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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