The Structural Characterization of a Series of Uranium-containing Gadolinium Zirconates

Abstract

A series of uranium-containing gadolinium zirconate samples have been fabricated at 1723 K in air. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy have confirmed pyrochlore or defect fluorite structures, while diffuse reflectance, X-ray absorption near edge structure and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies indicate a predominantly U 6+ oxidation state, even when Ca 2+ was added to charge balance for U 4+ . The results demonstrate the potential of gadolinium zirconates as host materials for actinides.