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INL reports findings on unusual quantum behavior of plutonium
Scientists at Idaho National Laboratory have discovered that plutonium hexaboride (PuB6) displays a type of unusual quantum property called a topological Kondo insulating state. Materials with this property are neither typical electricity conductors nor regular insulators. Rather, they have exterior surfaces that strongly conduct electricity and interiors that block electricity.
N. Kumar, R. K. Sharma, V. R. Ganatra, S. K. Mukerjee, V. N. Vaidya, D. D. Sood
Nuclear Technology | Volume 96 | Number 2 | November 1991 | Pages 169-177
Technical Paper | Nuclear Fuel Cycle | doi.org/10.13182/NT91-A34602
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
An internal gelation process has been studied for the preparation of thoria microspheres. The gelation behavior of an acid-deficient thorium nitrate solution (NO3/Th4+ = 3.0) with hexamethylenetetramine and urea has been investigated to define a gelation field diagram that could be used to select compositions suitable for microsphere preparation. Thoria microspheres have been successfully prepared using many different compositions. The process has also been used to prepare (Th,U)O2 microspheres containing 5 and 10 mol% uranium.