Novel Plutonium Titanate Compounds and Solid Solutions Pu ₂ Ti ₂ O ₇ ‐Ln ₂ Ti ₂ O ₇ : Relevance to Nuclear Waste Disposal

Abstract

The compounds SrPu 2 Ti 4 O 12 , Pu 2 Ti 3 O 8.79 , and Pu 2 Ti 2 O 7 , where plutonium is in the (III) oxidation state, were prepared and identified via X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The solid solubility limit of Pu 2 Ti 2 O 7 in Ln 2 Ti 2 O 7 (Ln = Gd, Er, or Lu) was also studied via XRD; it was determined that the solubility of Pu 2 Ti 2 O 7 increased as the radius of the lanthanide ion in the host compound decreased. Attempts to synthesize Sr 2 Pu 2 Ti 5 O 16 and Sr 2 Ce 2–y Pu y Ti 5 O 16 solid solutions, where plutonium is in the (IV) oxidation state, were unsuccessful.