Investigation of the Oxidation State of Uranium in Nuclear Materials and their Alteration Products

摘要

In this study, the oxidation state of uranium was investigated with Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy on the Transmission Electron Microscope. The oxygen K edge in a series of uranium-hearing phases was investigated and this technique was compared to an alternative method of using the relative intensities of the M_(4.5)- edges of the actinides. Under controlled conditions, it is possible to obtain reliable oxidation state data on uranium solids; however, mixtures of oxidation states in a single compound cannot be distinguished with certainty.