Effect of mass distribution and collection angle in pulsed laser deposited films – a sampling method for chemical characterization of spent nuclear fuel

Abstract

Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) can be used as a sampling tool for chemical characterization of irradiated nuclear fuel, when coupled with mass spectrometry analysis. The quantity of sample obtained by...

Pulsed Laser Deposition of CsPbBr3 Films: Impact of the Composition of the Target and Mass Distribution in the Plasma Plume

“…As the elemental transfer from the target to the substrate is mediated by the plasma plume, it is worth mentioning the mechanism of mass distribution in the plume. As the distribution of ions and neutral species composing the plume is ruled by a cosine power-law and a superposition of cosine and cosine power-law, respectively [57], for the same value of the n-power occurring in both laws, neutrals are distributed more toward the lateral side of the plume and ions are distributed more closely to the plume axis. For increasing value of the n-power, the species concentrate more along the central part of the plume.…”

“…Due to the weight loss of CsPbBr 3 expected above 250 • C [56], it is not possible to assess the impact on the final film composition of the interplay between the annealing-induced mass loss and the mass distribution related to the characteristics, in terms of distribution of species and angular divergence, of the plasma plume. This point is critical because the mass distribution in the laser plume depends on the elemental composition of the target, ablated species (ions and neutrals), energy of first ionization and number of mass of the species in the plasma plume [53,57,58]. To date, compositional deviations from the required stoichiometry due to mass gradients between organic and inorganic components was reported in the PLD deposition of hybrid perovskite films [59,60].…”

Parallel flow ablation cell for short signal duration in LA-ICP-TOFMS element imaging

“…An explanation could be that the low ionization potential and the low mass of Na lead to a further spread of Na ions in the plasma plume during ablation. 47 Another reason could be the early ionization of Na and the diffusion in the ICP due to space charge effects. Other low mass elements could also be affected but the signal intensity was not sufficiently high for measuring the signal duration.…”

Determination of intensity ratios of Nd, Cs, Zr and Sr against U and burn-up in simulated nuclear fuels by LA-ICPMS

“…As mentioned above, PLD-ICPMS or PLD-TIMS is employed in our laboratory to determine the burn-up of the simulated nuclear fuel. 24,30,31 In such burn-up studies, the isotopic ratio of the heavy element (U) to burn-up monitor (Nd) is measured and fuel burn-up is determined based on the following equation. 24 where X is at% fission, Z is fractional fission yield of a selected burn-up monitor ( e.g.…”

“…Another technique established in our laboratory for spatial proling and isotope ratio measurement of irradiated fuel is pulsed laser deposition (PLD) followed by mass spectrometry, either with ICPMS or thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). 24,30,31 The advantages of sampling by PLD 30 are that (i) it can be done inside a hot cell or lead shielded mini-cell with a rotary vacuum pump ($10 À3 mbar); (ii) UV grade fused silica based laser optics can withstand a high radiation environment; 32,33 (iii) only a thin lm having minimum radioactivity (compared to an irradiated pellet) needs to be handled during mass analysis, thereby reducing the human radiation exposure to a considerable extent; (iv) PLD followed by mass analysis will give the spatial prole of the irradiated pellet more accurately (error $ 1%); 24 and (v) as the sample for mass analysis is in the form of a solution, the isotope dilution method can be adopted for accurate concentration measurements. However, PLD followed by ICPMS has limitations compared to the direct solid sampling technique (LA-ICPMS), namely it is time consuming and it is difficult to dissolve the large sized particulates co-deposited in the PLD lm of hard materials, for instance, metal alloy fuel containing Zr or B 4 C from the control rod.…”