Investigation of reaction conditions on synthesis of UO2.34 and UO2 via hydrothermal route

Abstract

Spherical UO2.34 nanoparticles were firstly prepared by reactions of 0.01 or 0.05 M of UO2(NO3)2 with 0.025–0.04 or 0.5–5.0 M of hydrazine at 160 °C, respectively. However, UO2 formed when 0.01 M of UO2(OAc)2 was used for reaction with 0.025–0.04 M of hydrazine. When ethylenediamine was used to react with 0.025–0.05 M UO2(NO3)2 or 0.025 M UO2(OAc)2, unknown purple compounds formed at lower concentrations of ethylenediamine and the products became unique UO2 at 10.0 and 7.5 M ethylenediamine, respectively. These results demonstrated that reaction conditions significantly affect the products of uranium oxides prepared by hydrothermal methods.