A compact fission detector for fission-tagging neutron capture experiments with radioactive fissile isotopes

Bacak, M.; Aïche, M.; Bélier, G.; Berthoumieux, E.; Diakaki, Μ.; Dupont, E.; Gunsing, F.; Heyse, J.; Kopecky, S.; Bouchet, L.; Leeb, H.; Mathieu, L.; Meynier, André; Stephan, Richter; Schillebeeckx, P.; Sérot, O.; Sibbens, G.; Taïeb, J.; Vanleeuw, D.; Vlachoudis, V.; Aberle, O.; Amaducci, S.; Andrzejewski, J.; Audouin, L.; Balibrea, J.; Barbagallo, M.; Bečvář, F.; Billowes, J.; Bosnar, D.; Brown, A.; Caamaño, M.; Calviño, F.; Calviani, M.; Cano‐Ott, D.; Cardella, R.; Casanovas, A.; Cerutti, F.; Chen, Y.H.; Chiaveri, E.; Colonna, N.; Cortés, G.; Cortés-Giraldo, M.A.; Coséntino, L.; Damone, L. A.; Domingo‐Pardo, C.; Dressler, R.; Durán, I.; Fernández–Domínguez, B.; Ferrari, A.; Ferreira, Paulo Ricardo Araújo; Finocchiaro, P.; Furman, V.; Göbel, K.; García, A. R.; Gawlik, A.; Gilardoni, S.; Glodariu, T.; Gonçalves, I. F.; González‐Romero, E.; Griesmayer, E.; Guerrero, C.; Harada, Hideo; Heinitz, S.; Jenkins, D. G.; Jericha, E.; Käppeler, F.; Kadi, Y.; Kalamara, A.; Kavrigin, P.; Kimura, A.; Kivel, N.; Knapová, I.; Kokkoris, M.; Krtička, M.; Kurtulgil, D.; Leal-Cidoncha, E.; Lederer, C.; Lerendegui-Marco, J.; Meo, S. Lo; Lonsdale, S. J.; Macina, D.; Manna, A.; Marganiec, J.; Martínez, T.; Masi, A.; Massimi, C.; Mastinu, P.; Mastromarco, M.; Maugeri, E. A.; Mazzone, A.; Mendoza, E.; Mengoni, A.; Milazzo, Paolo; Mingrone, F.; Musumarra, A.; Negreţ, A.; Nolte, Roeland J. M.; Oprea, A.; Patronis, N.; Pavlik, A.; Perkowski, J.; Porras, I.; Praena, J.; Quesada, J. M.; Radeck, D.; Rauscher, T.; Reifarth, R.; Rubbia, C.; Ryan, J. A.; Sabaté-Gilarte, M.; Saxena, A.; Schumann, D.; Sedyshev, P.; Smith, A. G.; Sosnin, N. V.; Stamatopoulos, A.; Tagliente, G.; Taín, J. L.; Tarifeño-Saldivia, A.; Tassan‐Got, L.; Valenta, S.; Vannini, G.; Variale, V.; Vaz, P.; Ventura, A.; Vlastou, R.; Wallner, A.; Warren, S.; Weiß, C.; Woods, P. J.; Wright, T.; Žugec, P.

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2020.163981

Cited by 3 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Our research aim is to develop an electrodeposition technique to form uranium films for diverse applications. It is known that impurities in the fissile material have a negligible effect on fission …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Three-electrode cells with individualized compartments would prevent contamination with platinum from the counter electrode. Contrarily, scaling up this system, and having in consideration that previous works reported electrodeposition of uranium species by using CV onto nickel and platinum, ,,, the contamination with platinum single atoms represents a negligible variable for a first scaled-up electrochemical approach for uranium-films fabrication …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…40 Figure 2d shows another enhanced view of the chronoamperometric profile between 600 and 1000 s, with current spikes associated with hydrogen evolution. 32,40 Even though the impurities in the fissile material have a negligible effect on fission, 22 we propose, for more rigorous studies, the use of three-electrode cells, with individualized compartments for each electrode, connected with conductive bridges, like the experiment developed in our previously published work. 40 Three-electrode cells with individualized compartments would prevent contamination with platinum from the counter electrode.…”

Section: Electro-assembling Of Uranium Onto Bdd Electrodesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Uranium oxides and uranium-based compounds require novel stabilization solutions against non-inert environments to achieve safe, efficient, profitable, and environmentally friendly systems for uranium extraction, recycling, recovery, transportation, storage, and fuel development. − Controlling uranium composites’ formation, with a homogeneous and stable oxide distribution, will be extremely useful for different applications under different atmospheric conditions. − Recently, different methods have been developed to control the uranium oxidation state . Stable uranium oxides may be used as catalysts, , semiconductors, , and more recently for fabricating uranium-based films for solar cells, sensing devices, nuclear science and technologies, and fission-tagging neutron capture neutron sensors. − Neutron sensors are relevant and are in tune with the regulations and control protocols for deterring nuclear weapon proliferation established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) . The IAEA has established the necessity of new technologies and strategies for a new, regenerative, and tunable non-proliferation shield for a safer world. , The US Department of Energy is addressing the environmental legacy of defense-related uranium mining and milling sites in order to protect human health and the environment .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Subsequently, the fission fragments ionize gas within the detector chamber, as a sensing mechanism. , Previous literature research reported that U and Th electrodes have been fabricated using cyclic voltammetry (CV); however, this method presented inconsistencies such as precursor’s crystalline formation and regions without electrodeposited material . Due to the fissile material deposit representing the central piece of a neutron detector, , its quality must be improved to increase the specific activity and stability for neutron detection. Even though during CV different electrodeposition-stripping processes can occur on the surface of a determined analyte–electrode system, it is important to understand that CV represents an inadequate deposition technique.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stable Uranium Oxide Under Atmospheric Conditions: An Electroplating Technique for U Film Fabrication at Boron-Doped Diamond Electrodes

Peña-Duarte,

Acevedo-González,

Lagle

et al. 2023

ACS Mater. Au

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An electrodeposition technique of low-enriched uranium onto boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes for uranium electro-assembling, sequestration, uranium electrowinning (as the electroextraction alternative), and future neutron detection applications has been developed. Our findings through physicochemical characterization and an in-depth XPS analysis show that the U/BDD system consists of a blend of uranium oxides with IV, V, and VI oxidation states. Results show that U5+ is present and stable under open atmospheric conditions. The U electrodeposition on BDD creates smooth surfaces, free of voids, with uniform deposition of homogeneous tiny particles of stable uranium oxides, instead of chunky particles, and uranium compound mixtures, like large fibers of the precursor uranyl. Our electrochemical method operates without high temperatures or hazardous compounds. Uranium corrosion and oxidation processes occur spontaneously and parallel to the electrochemical formation of metallic uranium on BDD electrode surfaces, with metallic uranium reacting with water, producing fine particles of UO2. This work represents the first attempt to create a surface of uranium oxides, where the film thickness can be controlled for future applications, e.g., improving sensitivity in neutron detection technologies. Our U electro-assembling method provides a sustainable strategy for uranium electro-recovery from nuclear wastes, immobilizing uranium as a storage method or as U-film fabrication (U/BDD) for future neutron detection applications. Besides, this work contributes to uranium-based technologies, improving them and providing a better understanding of their electrochemical properties, e.g., uranium redox processes, uranium oxides’ formation, and stability evaluation. These properties are of remarkable need for uranium-based target formation. The use of our U/BDD method is proposed as an environmental protocol to recover and immobilize uranium-235, and other fissile materials, from civil and defense wastes, contaminated systems, and stockpiles.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%