Nanoscale Spatially Resolved Mapping of Uranium Enrichment.

ABSTRACT: Spatially resolved analysis of uranium (U) isotopes in small volumes of actinide-bearing materials is critical for a variety of technical disciplines, including earth and planetary sciences, environmental monitoring, bioremediation, and the nuclear fuel cycle. However, achieving subnanometer-scale spatial resolution for such isotopic analysis is currently a challenge. By using atom probe tomography-a three-dimensional nanoscale characterisation technique-we demonstrate unprecedented nanoscale mapping of U isotopic enrichment with high sensitivity across various microstructural interfaces within small volumes (~100 nm³) of depleted and low-enriched U alloyed with 10 wt% molybdenum that has different nominal enrichments of 0.20 and 19.75% ²³⁵U, respectively. We map enri

SUBMITTER: Kautz E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6707289 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature