Xps Study of the Oxidation State of Uranium Dioxide

Abstract

In this article we report an investigation of the oxidation state of uranium dioxide using X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, and by comparing to results obtained in previous studies. We find that uranium dioxide in powder appears to share its six valence electrons with the oxygen atoms to form crystalline UO 3 . 1. INTRODUCTION Uranium dioxide has a band gap comparable to those of semiconductors at the proper energies for absorption of solar radiation including infrared [1]. However, different uranium compounds have varying stoichiometry, and this influences its electrical properties which depend on the oxidation state of U in the compound. Here we investigate the oxidation state of uranium dioxide using X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) measurements, and by comparing to previous studies.