Preparation of Actinide Oxide Thin-Film Targets through Electrospray Solution Combustion Synthesis

Actinide oxide targets are utilized in nuclear science experiments for modeling nuclear fuel behavior in reactors. However, the cost and safe handling of actinides present significant challenges in the preparation of targets. We are using lanthanide surrogate in order to prepare for the making of radioactive actinite targets sparing material content, cost, and safe handling. We report on solution combustion synthesis (SCS) techniques of lanthanide oxides as surrogate materials through bulk combustion and thin-film techniques. The combustion of lanthanide nitrates with organic fuels was studied to understand the processes that result in complete conversion of reactants into nanocrystalline oxides, which are characterized with x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Lanthanide targets were successfully prepared and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to assess properties such as thickness and porosity. These combustion techniques displayed a rapid synthesis of lanthanide oxides with high efficiency, resulting in a fine powder that can be used to prepare targets for further experimentation. SCS of lanthanide oxides allowed methods of target preparation and combustion synthesis to be studied and refined as we begin to study SCS of plutonium and americium oxides for nuclear target preparation.