Uranium-based microspheres are of interest due to their
potential
applications as targets for medical isotopes production, as fuel for
nuclear reactors, and as standardized materials for nuclear forensics.
Here, for the first time, UO2F2 microspheres
(1–2 μm) have been prepared from the reaction between
UO3 microspheres and AgHF2 in an autoclave.
In this preparation, a new fluorination method has been applied, and
HF(g)produced in situ from the
thermal decomposition of AgHF2 and NH4HF2was used as the fluorinating agent. The microspheres
were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and scanning
electron microscopy (SEM). Diffraction results indicated that the
reaction performed with AgHF2 at 200 °C led to anhydrous
UO2F2 microspheres, while at 150 °C, hydrated
UO2F2 microspheres were obtained. Meanwhile,
NH4HF2 led to the formation of contaminated
products as driven by the formation of volatile species.