Characterization of (U,Gd)O2 nanoparticles synthesized by a low temperature method

SOLDATI, ANALIA L.; FERNANDEZ ZUVICH, AFRA; GANA WATKINS, IGNACIO; ZOLOTUCHO, HECTOR; PRADO, MIGUEL OSCAR

Montpellier

Conferencia; Nuclear Materials Conference 2016; 2016

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Transmission ElectronMicroscopy (TEM) was used to determine the presence of NPs agglomeration, grainsize and morphology. The sample with higher grain size homogeneity resulted theone synthesized at 300°C. Dark and Bright Field images (A and B) and thecorresponding selected area electron diffraction pattern (C) are observed inFigure 2. This sample shows polygonal morphologies and average grain sizes  of 28 ± 10 nm (D). The minimum/maximum grainsizes observed correspond to 12 nm and  62 nm, respectively. Although the electrondiffraction pattern corresponds to a polycrystalline sample (C), as expectedfor a nanometric material, it is worth to note that each observed NPcorresponds to a single crystallite with a unique atomic orientation.Furthermore, the presence of inter and intra granular pores, that can be wellobserved in the Bright Field image (A), could play a relevant role in thefission gas retention of a nuclear fuel produced with this tuned powder structure,if they can be maintained during the pellet preparation.