Work

In-situ observation of radiation physics and chemistry of nanostructured cerium oxide in water

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Room temperature electron irradiation in aqueous environment is applied to CeO 2 nanoparticles using a transmission electron microscope equipped with liquid environmental cell. Oxide dissolution kinetics become accessible at unprecedented scale of spatial and time resolution through irradiation activation of water within a sub- μ m size volume, allowing direct measurements of transformation rate and morphologies. Successful live-observation of the formation of nano-needles provides essential inside in how 1D-nanostructures can form. Furthermore, formation of hydrogen bubbles is found and interpreted in relation to the dose needed for ceria dissolution. The results are of importance for many research applications of ceria in water, e.g. for catalysis, environmental remediation, biomedical radiation protection, anti-corrosion coatings, and ultimately via analogy to UO 2 also for fission-power fuel engineering and waste disposal.

Source: Materials Research Express

DOI: 10.1088/2053-1591/aae634

Authors: Muhammad Sajid Ali Asghar, Beverley Inkson, Sudipta Seal, Marco Molinari, Dean Sayle, Günter Möbus

Institutions: University of Sheffield, University of Central Florida, University of Huddersfield, University of Kent

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications

Subfield: Structural Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: green

Funders: University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council