Characterization of alloy particles extracted from spent nuclear fuel

Graphical abstract: An aggregate of radioactive catalytic nanoparticles. Composition: 26.5Mo–32.7Ru–7.6Tc–6.3Rh–23.1Pd–3.8Te, Hexagonal symmetry, a = 0.2749 nm, c = 0.4386(15) nm. Display Omitted Highlights: ► Fission product particles that nondestructively extracted were characterized. ► Their composition, atomic level homogeneity and lattice parameters were determined. ► These evidences contribute to understanding the fate radionuclides in repository environments. - Abstract: We characterized, for the first time, submicro- and nanosized fission product-alloy particles that were extracted nondestructively from spent nuclear fuel, in terms of noble metal (Mo–Ru–Tc–Rh–Pd–Te) composition, atomic level homogeneity and lattice parameters. The evidences obtained in this work contribute to an improved understanding of the redox chemistry of radionuclides in nuclear waste repository environments and, in particular, of the catalytic properties of these unique metal alloy particles.