Abstract
AbstractHere we provide evidence that the formation of PuO2 nanoparticles from oxidized PuVI under alkaline conditions proceeds through the formation of an intermediate PuV solid phase, similar to NH4PuO2CO3, which is stable over a period of several months. For the first time, state‐of‐the‐art experiments at Pu M4 and at L3 absorption edges combined with theoretical calculations unambiguously allow to determine the oxidation state and the local structure of this intermediate phase.
Highlights
We provide evidence that the formation of PuO2 nanoparticles from oxidized PuVI under alkaline conditions proceeds through the formation of an intermediate PuV solid phase, similar to NH4PuO2CO3, which is stable over a period of several months
Plutonium plays a prominent role in nuclear energy production but nuclear accidents and nuclear weapons tests have led to the release of Pu and other hazardous isotopes into the environment in the past, and Pu contamination has been detected in waters and soils.[1]
The oxidation state is defined by the number of electrons that are removed from the valence orbitals of a neutral atom
Summary
International Edition: DOI: 10.1002/anie.201911637 German Edition: DOI: 10.1002/ange.201911637 A Novel Metastable Pentavalent Plutonium Solid Phase on the Pathway from Aqueous Plutonium(VI) to PuO2 Nanoparticles Kristina O. Kvashnina,* Anna Yu. Romanchuk, Ivan Pidchenko, Lucia Amidani, Evgeny Gerber, Alexander Trigub, Andre Rossberg, Stephan Weiss, Karin Popa, Olaf Walter, Roberto Caciuffo, Andreas C. Scheinost, Sergei M. Butorin, and Stepan N. Kalmykov
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