Synthetic uranium oxide hydrate materials: Current advances and future perspectives

Abstract

Uranium oxide hydrate (UOH) materials, a group of minerals and synthetic phases, have attracted recent attention due to their highly structural flexibility and diversity, as well as their primary relationship...

Uranium oxide hydrate frameworks with Er(iii) or Y(iii) ions: revealing structural insights leading to the low symmetry

“…Logically, given their compositions, these materials have been assigned the name uranium oxide hydrates (UOH). 11,12 The study of uranium-containing minerals has identified several dozen UOH-based minerals, 1,11 and with this knowledge more than a dozen synthetic UOH materials have since been reported. [13][14][15][16][17][18] The distinctive features in these materials are the differing secondary metal ions which make up the interlayer cation layer, and the O : OH ratios of the uranyl oxide hydroxide sheets.…”

“…It has also been hypothesised as to whether the preferential formation of a Ln 3+ containing UOF-type structure over a UOH-layered material is moderated by the ionic radius of the selected cation. 12 Given, of the lanthanide structures reported, the three which all have very similar ionic radii are the only ones to form a framework structure, this suggestion has merit. Thus, erbium, having a smaller ionic radius to those of Sm, Eu and Gd, is a prime candidate to probe such a hypothesis.…”

Flux crystal growth of Ba2[(UO2)2Ti2O8]: Structures, spectroscopies and implications

“…However, the primary design strategy so far is to achieve U(IV) incorporation as U(VI) species are generally deemed to be relatively soluble. In addition, some natural analogue studies also suggest that the oxidation dissolution process is responsible for the dissolution of uraninite (UO 2+x ) and the subsequent formation of various U(VI) or uranyl (UO 2 ) 2+ minerals in nature 35–37 . Consequently, many earlier waste form formulation studies were largely focused on the design and incorporation of U(IV) ions in various chemically durable mineral phases 38–40 .…”

LnUO4‐based glass–ceramic composites as waste forms for the immobilization of lanthanide‐bearing uranium wastes

“…[1][2][3][4][5] However, the use of nuclear energy gives rise to the major issue of safe management of high-level radioactive wastes arising from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel (SNF). 6,7 Data published by the International Atomic Energy Agency indicated that over 370 kt of SNF were discharged from various nuclear reactors by 2013 globally. 8 Among them, one third was reprocessed and two thirds are in storage awaiting further conditioning and safe disposal.…”

“…Nuclear energy has attracted recent attention as an effective alternative to reduce carbon emissions 1–5 . However, the use of nuclear energy gives rise to the major issue of safe management of high‐level radioactive wastes arising from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) 6,7 . Data published by the International Atomic Energy Agency indicated that over 370 kt of SNF were discharged from various nuclear reactors by 2013 globally 8 .…”