Radiation Induced Processes at Solid-Liquid Interfaces

Abstract: In the thesis, the reactions between water radiolysis products—H2O2, HO• and O2—with metals and metal oxides utilized in nuclear industry are studied. The reactions include not only surface reactions, e.g. redox reactions and catalytic decomposition of H2O2, but also solution reactions (Haber-Weiss reactions). To study the interfacial reactions, it is crucial to monitor the dissolution of the solid material, reactivity of H2O2 and formation of the intermediate hydroxyl radicals.Hydroxyl radicals are captured by probe (Tris or methanol) to generate CH2O which can be quantified by the modified Hantzsch method. The results from ?-irradiation experiments on homogeneous system show that the conversion yield of CH2O from hydroxyl radicals is affected by O2 and pH. A mechanism of CH2O production from Tris is proposed.Besides, the consumption rate of H2O2 in the H2O2/ZrO2/Tris system is found to be influenced by Tris. A mechanism for the catalytic decomposition of H2O2 upon ZrO2 surface is proposed which includes independent surface adsorption sites for H2O2 and Tris. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the deviation of detected CH2O concentration by the modified Hantzsch method from actual concentration increases with increasing [H2O2]0/[CH2O]0.The inhibition of sulfide on the radiation induced dissolution of UO2 is confirmed and is dependent on sulfide concentration. And the inhibition of sulfide is independent to that of H2/Pd.It is found that the reactivity of H2O2 and dynamics of CH2O formation are different for the studied materials in the H2O2/MxOy/Probe system. The kinetic parameters, such as rate constant, activation energy, frequency factors are determined.Both surface and solution reactions are observed in the aqueous W(s)/H2O2/Tris system. It is also demonstrated that Haber-Weiss reactions which produce HO• continuously are dominating. Furthermore, it is found that hydroxyl radicals are formed simultaneously during the dissolution of W in aerobic aqueous system.The knowledge conveyed by the thesis is relevant to nuclear technological applications, as well as the applications related in photocatalysis, biochemistry, corrosion science, catalysis and optics/electronics.