Nanocrystalline (U0.5Ce0.5)O2±x solid solutions through citrate gel-combustion

Abstract

Nanocrystalline powders of (U0.5Ce0.5)O2±x solid solutions were synthesized in bulk (100–200 g) through the citrate gel combustion. The fuel (citric acid) to oxidant (nitrate) mole ratio (R) was varied from 0.1 to 1.0. Two independent lots of the products obtained through the gel-combustion were calcined at 973 K in air and in a mixture of argon containing 8% H2 respectively. All these powders were characterized for their bulk density, X-ray crystallite size, specific surface area, size distribution of the particles, porosity as well as residual carbon. The morphology and microstructures of these powders were studied by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) respectively. Nanocrystalline single phase fluorite solid solutions having a typical crystallite size of about (7–15 nm) were obtained. These powders were highly porous comprising cuboidal flaky agglomerates. The combustion mixture with an ‘R’ value of 0.25 was found to undergo volume combustion and was found to yield a product that was distinctly different. The systematic investigation on synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline UCeO2 is reported for the first time.