Abstract
THE oxides of uranium are important compounds both chemically and industrially. In applications such as nuclear technology, it is of interest to know the oxidation state of uranium in the particular environment. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS or ESCA1, is an analytical technique which may prove useful in this respect1,2. It has been shown1,3 that core electron levels are sensitive to the chemical environment of the atom concerned and the resulting small changes in core electron binding energies are described as a chemical shift. Since chemical shifts are dependent on the effective atomic charge, a variation in the core binding energies of uranium in its different oxidation states is likely. We therefore examined the X-ray I photoelectron spectra of the three uranium oxides, UO2, U3O8 and UO3, as well as uranium metal.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
We are sorry, but there is no personal subscription option available for your country.
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Siegbahn, K., Nordling, C., Fahlman, A., Nordberg, R., Hamrin, K., Hedman, J., Johansson, G., Bergmark, T., Karlsson, S.-E., Lindgren, I., and Lindberg, B., ESCA, Atomic, Molecular and Solid State Structure Studied by Means of Electron Spectroscopy (Almqvist and Wiksell, Uppsala, 1967).
Hercules, D. M., Anal. Chem., 42, 20A (1970).
Siegbahn, K., Nordling, G., Johansson, G., Hedman, J., Heden, P. F., Hamrin, K., Gelius, U., Bergmark, T., Werme, L. O., Manne, R., and Baer, Y., ESCA Applied to Free Molecules (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1969).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
CHADWICK, D., GRAHAM, J. X-ray Photoelectron Spectra of Uranium Oxides. Nature Physical Science 237, 127–128 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/physci237127a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/physci237127a0