Title
Charge distribution and oxygen diffusion in hyperstoichiometric uranium dioxide UO2+x (x ≤ 0.25)
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2013
Abstract
Quantum-mechanical techniques were used to determine the charge distribution of U atoms in UO2+x (x ≤ 0.25) and to calculate activation-energy barriers to oxygen diffusion. Upon optimization, the reduction in unit-cell volume relative to UO2, and the shortest (U-O) and (O-O) bond-lengths (0.22 and 0.24 nm, respectively) are in good agreement with experimental data. The addition of interstitial oxygen to the unoccupied cubic sites in the UO2 structure deflects two nearest-neighbor oxygen atoms along the body diagonal of uranium-occupied cubic sites, creating lattice oxygen defects. In (1 × 1 × 2) supercells, the partial oxidation of two U4+ atoms is observed for every interstitial oxygen added to the structure, consistent with previous quantum-mechanical studies. Results favor the stabilization of two U5+ over one U6+ in UO 2+x. Calculated activation energies (2.06-2.73 eV) and diffusion rates for oxygen in UO2+x support the idea that defect clusters likely play an increasingly important role as oxidation proceeds. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Journal of Nuclear Materials
First Page
422
Last Page
433
Recommended Citation
Skomurski, F., Wang, J., Ewing, R., & Becker, U. (2013). Charge distribution and oxygen diffusion in hyperstoichiometric uranium dioxide UO2+x (x ≤ 0.25). Journal of Nuclear Materials, 434 (1-3), 422-433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2011.09.003