AES and XPS study of plutonium oxidation

Conference · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 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; TRN: 80-006407
• Resource Relation: Conference: 26. national vacuum symposium, New York, NY, USA, 2 Oct 1979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
PLUTONIUM
OXIDATION
ARGON
AUGER EFFECT
AUGER ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
BINDING ENERGY
HEAT TREATMENTS
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
METALS
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
RARE GASES
SPECTROSCOPY
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
050700* - Nuclear Fuels- Fuels Production & Properties
400201 - Chemical & Physicochemical Properties