Synthesis, Characterization and Properties of Actinide Compounds

Abstract Together with the development of nuclear fuel on the basis of uranium and plutonium, basic reasearch on actinide compounds has played an important role during more than 20 years at the European Institute for Transuranium Elements as well as at the Uranium and Plutonium Fuels Department of the CEA (DECPU). The article reviews some of the topics treated in collaboration at the two laboratories. Most of the studies of thermodynamic properties, physical properties and diffusion processes have been done with actinide oxides. The programme of solid state chemistry studies carried out presently at Cadarache with emphasis on measurements with single crystals in search of heavy fermions is described in detail. Some results of the ongoing collaboration with Karlsruhe, in particular on neptunium compounds, and plans for the future are reported.