Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-r7xzm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T01:27:24.000Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Electrical Conductivity and Structural Properties of Cesium Iron Phosphate Glasses: A Potential Host for Vitrifying Nuclear Waste

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2011

K. Furic
Affiliation:
Ruder Boskovic Institute, Department of Physics, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
D. E. Day
Affiliation:
University of Missouri-Rolla, Graduate Center for Materials Research, Rolla, MO 65409-1170, USA
Get access

Abstract

The thermally stimulated current (TSC) and dc conductivity for iron phosphate glasses containing up to 28 mol% Cs2O have been measured in a temperature range from 120 to 400 K. The dc conductivity and activation energy were constant and independent of Cs2O content. With increasing cesium concentration in cesium iron phosphate glasses the slowly moving cesium ions are more tightly bound to the non-bridging oxygen ions and make no measurable contribution to dc conductivity. The dc conduction in these glasses is totally electronic, controlled by electron hopping between iron ions. The ionic conduction is immeasurably small because of the low mobility of the cesium ions. This agreement is reinforced by the excellent chemical durability of the glasses, where the dissolution rate at 90oC changes little with increasing Cs2O content. Raman spectroscopy indicated that the structure of these glasses was composed of predominantly pyrophosphate (P2O7) groups, but the metaphosphate chains (PO3) also existed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Lambert, S., Kim, D.S., Tank Waste Remediation System High-Level Feed Processability Assessment Report, Westinghouse Hanford Company, WHC-SP-1143, UC-811, Richland, WA 1994.Google Scholar
2. Illman, D. L., Researchers take up environmental challenge at Hanford, Chem. and Eng., (1993) 21 June: 9.Google Scholar
3. Cunnane, J. C., Bates, J.K., Ebert, W. J., Feng, X., Mazer, J.J., Wronkiewicz, D.J.,., Sproull, Bourcier, W. L., McGrail, B. P., High-level nuclear.waste borosilicate glass: a compedium of characteristics. Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc., 294 (1993) 225.Google Scholar
4. Gray, W. J., Volatility of some potential high-level radioactive waste forms, Rad. Waste Mngt., 1 (1980) 147.Google Scholar
5. Mogus-Milankovic, A. and Day, D. E., J. Non-Cryst. Solids, 162 (1993) 275.Google Scholar
6. Brow, R.K., Tallant, D.R., Myers, S. T. and Phifer, C.C., J. Non-Cryst.Solids, 191, (1995) 45.Google Scholar
7. Wazer, J. R. van, Phosphorus and Its Componds, Vol.1, Interscience New York,1958.Google Scholar
8. Exarhos, G. Miller, P. J. and Risen, W. M. Jr, J. Chem. Phys. 60 (1974) 4145.Google Scholar
9. Rouse, G. B. Jr, Miller, P. J. and Risen, W. M. Jr, J. Non-Cryst. Solids, 28 (1978), 193.Google Scholar
10. Day, D. E., Mesko, M. and Yu, X., Final Technical Report, Battelle Pacific, Northwest Laboratory, Contract no. 214582-A-L2, November 1994.Google Scholar
11. Sales, B. C., Boatner, L. A., J. Non-Cryst. Solids, 79 (1986) 83.Google Scholar
12. Mesko, M. G., Day, D. E., J. Nucl. Mater., 273 (1999) 27.Google Scholar
13. Jain, H., Peterson, N. L. and Downing, H. L., J. Non-Cryst. Solids, 55 (1983) 283.Google Scholar