Low temperature oxidation of uranium dioxide: an X-ray and electron diffraction study

Oxidation of UO2 has been intensively studied since many decades. A lot of work focused on low temperature oxidation (< 400 °C) related to long term dry storage of spent nuclear fuel. Interpretation was based mainly on conventional X-ray techniques and more recently, synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction have contributed to the understanding of the complex reaction mechanisms. Similar electron diffraction studies remain scarce.