Physical Chemistry Seminar – Peter Jensen, Chemistry Graduate Student

About the event

Speaker: Peter Jensen, chemistry graduate student

Group: Guo/Moreau

Title: Structure and Thermal Properties of Lanthanide Doped UO₂

Abstract: Fission reactions in UO₂ generate rich chemistry and complex structures within its fluorite matrix. Lanthanides (Ln), as one of the dominating fission products, are able to be incorporated into the UO₂ structure, and change the physical and chemical properties. In this talk, I will summarize previous studies on Ln-doped UO₂, with data on structure, lattice defects, oxidation characteristics, and charge distribution. Understanding the behavior and properties of Ln-doped UO₂ is important to ensure safe storage, reuse, and long-term disposal of spent fuel.

References:

1. Olds, T. A.; Karcher, S. E.; Kriegsman, K. W.; Guo, X.; McCloy, J. S. Oxidation and anion lattice defect signatures of hypostoichiometric lanthanide-doped UO₂. Journal of Nuclear Materials 2020, 530, 151959. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2019.151959.
2. Prieur, D.; Vigier, J.-F.; Popa, K.; Walter, O.; Dieste, O.; Varga, Z.; Beck, A.; Vitova, T.; Scheinost, A. C.; Martin, P. M. Charge Distribution in U_1–xCe_xO_2+y Nanoparticles. Inorganic Chemistry 2021, 60 (19), 14550-14556. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c01071.
3. Vazhappilly, T.; Pathak, A. K. Theoretical study on the mechanical and thermal properties of uranium dioxide doped with lanthanide fission products. Journal of Nuclear Materials 2019, 519, 128-136. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2019.03.032.
4. Yoshida, K.; Arima, T.; Inagaki, Y.; Idemitsu, K.; Osaka, M.; Miwa, S. Oxygen potential of hypo-stoichiometric La-doped UO₂. Journal of Nuclear Materials 2011, 418 (1), 22-26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2011.06.045.