The Application of HEXS and HERFD XANES for Accurate Structural Characterisation of Actinide Nanomaterials: The Case of ThO₂.

ABSTRACT: The structural characterisation of actinide nanoparticles (NPs) is of primary importance and hard to achieve, especially for non-homogeneous samples with NPs less than 3 nm. By combining high-energy X-ray scattering (HEXS) and high-energy-resolution fluorescence-detected X-ray absorption near-edge structure (HERFD XANES) analysis, we have characterised for the first time both the short- and medium-range order of ThO₂ NPs obtained by chemical precipitation. By using this methodology, a novel insight into the structures of NPs at different stages of their formation has been achieved. The pair distribution function revealed a high concentration of ThO₂ small units similar to thorium hexamer clusters mixed with 1 nm ThO₂ NPs in the initial steps of formation. D

SUBMITTER: Amidani L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7839789 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature