Development of first ever scanning probe microscopy capabilities for plutonium

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Journal of Nuclear Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.02.017· OSTI ID:1343681

Beaux, Miles F.; Cordoba, Miguel Santiago; Zocco, Adam T.; Vodnik, Douglas R.; Ramos, Michael; Richmond, Scott ; Moore, David P.; Venhaus, Thomas J.; Joyce, Stephen A.; Usov, Igor O.

Scanning probe microscopy capabilities have been developed for plutonium and its derivative compounds. Specifically, a scanning tunneling microscope and an atomic force microscope housed in an ultra-high vacuum system and an inert atmosphere glove box, respectively, were prepared for the introduction of small non-dispersible δ-Pu coupons. Experimental details, procedures, and preliminary imaging of δ-Pu coupons are presented to demonstrate the functionality of these new capabilities. In conclusion, these first of a kind capabilities for plutonium represent a significant step forward in the ability to characterize and understand plutonium surfaces with high spatial resolution.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 1343681
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-16-27861; TRN: US1700559
• Journal Information: Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 487, Issue C; ISSN 0022-3115
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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