AES and XPS study of plutonium oxidation
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
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Related Subjects
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