Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
The structural evolution of UO2 during its oxidation to U3O8 at 250°C in air was studied by in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction on the D2AM-CRG beamline at ESRF. The aim of this study is to determine the phases that are likely to appear during the long-term storage of spent nuclear fuel. Our results are in disagreement with the literature in which the existence of an intermediate cubic phase is not reported. Instead, an α-U3O7 tetragonal phase (c/a < 1) was mentioned but not definitively observed. These previous interpretations may have been the result of poor instrumental resolution.