Synthetic diversity in the preparation of metallic uranium

Abstract

Uranium metal is associated with several aspects of nuclear technology; it is used as fuel for research and power reactors, targets for medical isotope productions, explosive for nuclear weapons and precursors in synthetic chemistry. The study of uranium metal at the laboratory scale presents the opportunity to evaluate metallic nuclear fuels, develop new methods for metallic spent fuel reprocessing and advance the science relevant to nuclear forensics and medical isotope production. Since its first isolation in 1841, from the reaction of uranium chloride and potassium metal, uranium metal has been prepared by solid-state reactions and in solution by electrochemical, chemical and radiochemical methods. The present review summarizes the methods outlined above and describes the chemistry associated with each preparation.

Digging into the Intrinsic Negative Thermal Expansion of Uranium Tetrafluoride

“…First prepared in 1866 from the reaction of UCl 4 and HF aq , , UF 4 is an essential material in the nuclear industry. Its applications span targets for heavy ion production, intermediates in the production of UF 6 for enrichment, , and the main material for the industrial preparation of U metal . Additionally, UF 4 is envisaged as a fuel for advanced nuclear reactors .…”

“…Its applications span targets for heavy ion production, 3 intermediates in the production of UF 6 for enrichment, 4 , 5 and the main material for the industrial preparation of U metal. 6 Additionally, UF 4 is envisaged as a fuel for advanced nuclear reactors. 7 The coordination chemistry of UF 4 has been well documented, and the material has been studied in the solid state by spectroscopic (EXAFS, 8 19 F NMR, 9 , 10 IR, 11 Raman, 12 XPS, 13 absorption, 14 and luminescence 15 ), X-ray 16 − 20 and neutron powder diffraction (NPD), 21 and theoretical methods.…”