Synthesis of Uranium Trioxide Nanoplates through Electrodeposition

The metal uranium has got several oxides such as: Uranium dioxide (UO2), Diuranium pentoxide(U2O5), Uranium trioxide(UO3), Triuranium octoxide(U3O8), and Uranyl peroxide(UO4). Each of these oxides has unique usages. Single crystals of various uranium oxides such as UO2, U4O9 and U3O8 were prepared by chemical transport reactions using halogen gases as transporting agents with a temperature gradient of 1000 °C to 850 °C in closed tubes [1]. Among them, Uranium dioxide single crystals have been grown by several techniques: anodic electrodeposition [2], sublimation [3], floating zone techniques [4], synthesis of hollow UO2 nanospheres via radiolytic reduction of ammonium uranyl tricarbonate [5], solid-state synthesis [6], Electron beam induced synthesis [7], Photo-induced low temperature synthesis [8], and others [9-12]. Navinsek [13] grew thin films of UO2 on NaCl substrates by cathode sputtering. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to present an investigation of a single unique crystal growth of uranium oxide nanoplates in a closed system, by an improved, fast, clean, and novel method for their preparation

Keywords:

Urania , Electrodeposition , nanoparticles , nanoplates , SEM , XRD