Photoelectron spectroscopy allows for the investigation of the electronic structure and chemical bonding of actinide elements and their compounds, providing insights into oxidation states, chemical environments, and electronic configurations. This knowledge can aid in comprehending reactivity, stability, and other properties of actinide materials, which is essential for ensuring safe handling, storage, and disposal in nuclear applications. We have reviewed a number of results in actinide core-level photoemission studies, with a particular focus on x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. Actinides, due to their inherent radioactivity, have not been as well studied with XPS as have other segments of the periodic table. Given the inherent safety concerns, equipment requirements, and short isotopic lifetimes associated with actinide research, we outline the strategies and precautions necessary for conducting successful and safe XPS experiments on these elements. Core-level photoemission can be a powerful proven tool for investigating the electronic structure, chemical bonding behaviors, and physical properties of actinides, providing valuable insights into an incredibly complex behavior of these systems. We highlight key findings from recent studies that demonstrate the potential of core-level photoemission in uncovering the unique properties of actinides and their compounds. Finally, we identify current knowledge gaps and future research directions that could enhance our understanding of actinide chemistry and physics.
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September 2024
Review Article|
July 23 2024
Review of actinide core-level photoemission
Alaina Thompson
;
Alaina Thompson
(Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Supervision, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing)
1
Department of Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology
, 3101 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 606162
Materials Science and Technology Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory
, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
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William Limestall
;
William Limestall
(Conceptualization, Data curation, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing)
1
Department of Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology
, 3101 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 606163
Chemical & Fuel Cycle Division, Argonne National Laboratory
, 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Lemont, Illinois 60439
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Art Nelson
;
Art Nelson
(Conceptualization, Data curation, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Writing – original draft)
4
Lawence Livermore National Laboratory
, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94551
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Daniel T. Olive
;
Daniel T. Olive
(Conceptualization, Data curation, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing)
2
Materials Science and Technology Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory
, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
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Jeff Terry
Jeff Terry
a)
(Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Supervision, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing)
1
Department of Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology
, 3101 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 606165
Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology
, 3101 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60616
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a)
Electronic mail: terryj@iit.edu
J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 42, 050802 (2024)
Article history
Received:
February 12 2024
Accepted:
June 05 2024
Citation
Alaina Thompson, William Limestall, Art Nelson, Daniel T. Olive, Jeff Terry; Review of actinide core-level photoemission. J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 1 September 2024; 42 (5): 050802. https://doi.org/10.1116/6.0003534
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