Cr(2+) solid solution in UO(2) evidenced by advanced spectroscopy

Advanced Cr-doped UO(2) fuels are essential for driving safe and efficient generation of nuclear energy. Although widely deployed, little is known about their fundamental chemistry, which is a critical gap for development of new fuel materials and radioactive waste management strategies. Utilising an original approach, we directly evidence the chemistry of Cr((3+))(2)O(3)–doped U((4+))O(2). Advanced high-flux, high-spectral purity X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), corroborated by diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and high energy resolved fluorescence detection-XAS, is used to establish that Cr(2+) directly substitutes for U(4+), accompanied by U(5+) and oxygen vacancy charge compensation. Extension of the analysis to heat-treated simulant nuclear fuel reveals a mixed Cr(2+/3+) oxidation state, with Cr in more than one physical form, explaining the substantial discrepancies that exist in the literature. Successful demonstration of this analytical advance, and the scientific underpinning it provides, opens opportunities for an expansion in the range of dopants utilised in advanced UO(2) fuels.