Ultrasonically controlled synthesis of UO₂₊ colloidal nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Actinide colloids and nanoparticles (NPs) are crucial for nuclear energetics and environmental radioactivity.
• Understanding nanoscale actinide oxide properties necessitates effective synthesis methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a robust synthesis approach for uranium dioxide (UO2) nanoparticles (NPs).
• To characterize the physico-chemical properties of UO2 NPs synthesized via sonochemistry.

Main Methods:

• Sonochemistry was employed to synthesize UO2 NPs from stabilized U(IV) solutions.
• Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) were used for characterization.

Main Results:

• Crystalline, spherical UO2 NPs with a UO2-like structure were successfully prepared.
• The synthesized NPs measured 18.0 ± 0.1 nm.
• Sonochemistry produced larger, more defined, and crystalline NPs with a narrower size distribution compared to controlled hydrolysis.

Conclusions:

• Sonochemistry is a simple and effective method for synthesizing well-defined UO2 NPs.
• These NPs serve as valuable reference materials for fundamental, technological, and environmental research.
• The study advances the understanding of actinide NP synthesis and properties.