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Synthesis and preservation of graphene-supported uranium dioxide nanocrystals.
- Source :
-
Journal of Nuclear Materials . Jul2016, Vol. 475, p113-122. 10p. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Graphene-supported uranium dioxide (UO 2 ) nanocrystals are potentially important fuel materials. Here, we investigate the possibility of synthesizing graphene-supported UO 2 nanocrystals in polar ethylene glycol compounds by the polyol reduction of uranyl acetylacetone under boiling reflux, thereby enabling the use of an inexpensive graphene precursor graphene oxide into a one-pot process. We show that triethylene glycol is the most suitable solvent with an appropriate reduction potential for producing nanometer-sized UO 2 crystals compared to monoethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol. Graphene-supported UO 2 nanocrystals synthesized with triethylene glycol show evidence of heteroepitaxy, which can be beneficial for facilitating heat transfer in nuclear fuel particles. Furthermore, we show that graphene-supported UO 2 nanocrystals synthesized by polyol reduction can be readily stored in alcohols, impeding oxidation from the prevalent oxygen in air. Together, these methods provide a facile approach for preparing and storing graphene-supported UO 2 nanocrystals for further investigation and development under ambient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00223115
- Volume :
- 475
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Nuclear Materials
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 115823340
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.03.027