Journal article
Effects of He-Ion Radiation on Solid-State Uranyl Nitrate Compounds under Dry and Hydrated Atmospheric Conditions
Inorganic chemistry
04/07/2026
DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6c00351
PMID: 41945775
Abstract
Radioactive decay of uranium (U) and its related daughter/fission products emits ionizing radiation, including γ (γ) rays and α (α) particles, resulting in the formation of radical species and induced chemical reactivity in materials. While radioactivity is inherent to the chemistry of U, limited studies provide detailed changes at an atomistic level. This work describes the He-ion radiolysis of four solid-state U(VI) species: [UO
(NO
)
]·3(H
O) and M[UO
(NO
)
] (M = K
, Rb
, Cs
). These materials were irradiated under different atmospheric conditions to further evaluate the impact of water radiolysis on the materials. Pre- and postirradiation analyses were conducted using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), Raman, and attenuated total reflectance infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy up to 25 MGy. The results indicated the presence of nitrate radical (NO
) formation in all solid-state materials with similarities to those observed in γ-radiation studies. Irradiation of [UO
(NO
)
]·3(H
O) did not show evidence of reactive oxygen species bound to the U(VI) cation under inert conditions; however, surface reactivity was observed for samples irradiated in the H
O-saturated environment. Similar chemical changes were observed in the uranyl trinitrato compounds irradiated in the presence of H
O vapor, and there were observed differences in the reactivity depending on the identity of the alkali cation.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Effects of He-Ion Radiation on Solid-State Uranyl Nitrate Compounds under Dry and Hydrated Atmospheric Conditions
- Creators
- Samantha J Kruse - University of IowaMaianh Nguyen - University of Iowa, NeurologyJay A LaVerne - University of Notre DameTori Z Forbes - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Inorganic chemistry
- DOI
- 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6c00351
- PMID
- 41945775
- NLM abbreviation
- Inorg Chem
- ISSN
- 0020-1669
- eISSN
- 1520-510X
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society
- Grant note
- Idaho National Laboratory: NA
The authors would like to thank Professor Michael Wiescher for the use of the Notre Dame Nuclear Science Laboratory (NSL) facilities, supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation Grant Phys-0758100, and Professor Ian Carmichael for access to the Notre Dame Radiation Laboratory facilities, supported by the DOE Basic Energy Science Grant DE-FC02-04ER15533. This document is NDRL-5493 from the Notre Dame Radiation Laboratory. The authors would also like to thank the Idaho National Laboratory Postdoctoral Professional Development Program for supporting the writing of this manuscript.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 04/07/2026
- Academic Unit
- Neurology; Civil and Environmental Engineering; Core Research Facilities; Chemistry
- Record Identifier
- 9985153387502771
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