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Updated: Jan 9, 2026
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Speciation and Bioavailability Measurements of Environmental Plutonium Using Diffusion in Thin Films
Published on: November 9, 2015
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Charge transfer in fcc plutonium-gallium alloys
Paul Roussel1, Sarah Hernandez2, Sajib Kumar Barman2
1AWE plc, Aldermaston, Reading, Berkshire RG7 4PR, United Kingdom.
Summary
Alloying plutonium with gallium changes its electronic behavior. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations reveal a consistent charge increase on gallium in these plutonium alloys.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Solid State Physics
- Nuclear Materials
Background:
- Plutonium alloys exhibit unique electronic properties.
- Understanding charge transfer in alloys is crucial for materials development.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the electronic behavior change in plutonium-gallium alloys.
- Quantify charge transfer between plutonium and gallium.
Main Methods:
- X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to measure the initial state Auger parameter.
- Bader valence charge analysis for theoretical calculations.
Main Results:
- Experimental and theoretical results show excellent agreement.
- A consistent increase of approximately -0.6 electrons in charge on gallium was observed across dilute gallium concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Gallium alloying fundamentally alters plutonium's electronic structure.
- The observed charge transfer is invariant within the studied alloy range, providing key insights into plutonium-gallium interactions.
Keywords:
Bader charge analysischarge transferplutonium gallium alloysx-ray photoelectron spectroscopyMore Related Videos
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