Charge Distribution and Local Structure of Americium-Bearing Thorium Oxide Solid Solutions

The electronical and structural properties of Th(0.80)Am(0.20)O(2-x) materials have been studied by the coupling of X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy techniques. A substoichiometric fluorite Th(IV)(0.80)Am(III)(0.20)O(1.90) solid solution is found following sintering in moisturized Ar-H(2). In contrast, heating of this sample in air leads to a nondefective fluorite Th(IV)(0.80)Am(IV)(0.20)O(2.00) solid solution. The structures of these solid solution compounds were fully characterized by assessing the interatomic distances, the coordination numbers, and the structural disorder. The effect of the sintering atmosphere on these crystallographical parameters and on the cation valences has been determined and the capability of ThO(2) to accommodate tri- and tetravalent actinides in the fluorite structure assessed.