Abstract
Initial studies of plutonium oxycarbide surface films on metal have been reported to slow the rate of metal corrosion in dry conditions. Exploiting this property presents a unique opportunity in the safe storage of this radioactive and toxic material; however, more fundamental work is required. The plutonium, carbon, and oxygen ratio of these surface films is investigated here using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and is shown to be nonstoichiometric. The origin of the carbon in the formation of surface plutonium oxycarbide films is probed using a combination of XPS, x-ray diffraction, and secondary ion mass spectrometry and is shown to occur from the metal interstitial impurity. The kinetics of plutonium oxycarbide film growth for a specific bulk carbon concentration have been determined.
Published Version
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