The XPS study of the structure of uranium-containing ceramics

Abstract

The samples of the (Ca0.5GdU0.5)Zr2O7 and (Ca0.5GdU0.5)(ZrTi)O7 ceramics with the fluorite and pyrochlore structures used as matrixes for the long-lived high-level radioactive waste disposal were studied with the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy method. On the basis of the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy parameters of the outer and core electrons from the binding energy range of 0-1250 eV the oxidation states of the included metal ions were determined, the quantitative elemental and ionic analysis was done, and the orderliness (monophaseness) was evaluated. The obtained data agree with the X-ray diffraction and the scanning electron microscopy results.