Development of novel sample preparation techniques for analysis of micro-gram quantities of bulk actinides

为了支持核安全、核取证和制造过程控制，需要对大量锕系元素材料进行准确和精确的分析。该项目的目的是评估用于锕系物质化学分析的微尺度取样和光谱分析技术的性能，以支持核安全。在处理放射性材料时，减少样本量是一个关键的好处，因为它可以提高安全性并减少废物产生。利用聚焦离子束扫描电子显微镜（FIB-SEM）和激光切割技术可以生成亚微克级铀和钚样品，用于同位素、微量元素、表面、物相和形态分析。要研究的关键发展是如何制备用于小规模分析的锕系元素样品，同时保留被分析的材料特性。在这个范围广泛的项目中，学生将通过FIB和激光切割制备样品，并通过学术界和工业界的先进质谱和表面技术（例如TIMS， SIMS， LIBS, ESI-MS, LA-ICP-MS， APT， TEM等）进行分析。这些样品还将研究其微尺度溶解和放射化学，并通过非破坏性辐射测量来比较其性能与散装方法。该项目将处理现代核分析化学中的许多关键领域，通过应用最先进的工艺确定所需的最小样本量，并确定与批量放射化学方法相比，表面技术分析锕系元素材料的交叉点。任何发展的结果都将产生具有广泛工业相关性的新方法。

The accurate and precise analysis of bulk actinide materials is required in support of nuclear security, nuclear forensics and manufacturing process control. The objective of the project is to evaluate the performance of micro-scale sampling and spectrometry techniques for the chemical analysis of actinide materials in support of nuclear security. Reduced sample size is a key benefit when working with radioactive materials, as it leads to improved safety and reduced waste generation.In principal, focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) and laser cutting can generate sub-microgram samples of uranium and plutonium for isotopic, trace elemental, surface, phase and morphological analysis. The key development to be investigated is how actinide samples can be prepared for analysis on the small scale, whilst retaining the material properties being analysed for. In this wide-ranging project the student will prepare samples by FIB and laser cutting and analyse them by advanced mass spectrometry and surface techniques (e.g. TIMS, SIMS, LIBS, ESI-MS, LA-ICP-MS, APT, TEM etc.) in academia and industry. These samples will also be studied for their micro-scale dissolution and radiochemistry, and by non-destructive radiometry to compare performance to bulk methods. The project will address many of the key areas in modern nuclear analytical chemistry, establishing minimum sample sizes required by applying state-of-the-art processes, and determining the crossover point in the analysis of actinide materials by surface techniques in comparison with bulk radiochemical methods. The outcomes of any developments will yield novel approaches of wide industrial relevance.