Synthesis of nc-UO2 by controlled precipitation in aqueous phase

Nanocrystalline UO2 has been produced through controlled precipitation from an electrolytically reduced U(IV) solution. The reduction process of U(VI) to U(IV) was investigated by cyclic voltammetry in combination with absorption spectrophotometry. Precipitation was achieved by controlled alkalinisation following closely the solubility line of U(IV) in aqueous media. The highest starting concentration used was 0.5 M uranylnitrate which yielded, with the equipment used, around 10 g material pro batch. The produced nc-UO2 was characterised by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) and exhibited the typical UO2þx fcc fluorite structure with an average crystallite size of 3.9 nm.

JOVANI ABRIL Raquel;  GIBILARO M.;  JANSSEN Arne;  ELOIRDI Rachel;  SOMERS Joseph;  SPINO Jose Luis;  MALMBECK Rikard; 

2016-06-08

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

JRC99146

0022-3115,   

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022311516301726,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC99146,   

10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.04.050,