Synthesis and characterization of actinide nitrides

A carbothermic reduction of the metal oxides in a hydrogen/nitrogen mixed gas stream prior to nitriding in a nitrogen gas stream was used to synthesize uranium nitride at 1500°C, cerium nitride at 1400°C, and dysprosium nitride at 1500°C. Cerium nitride and dysprosium nitride were also synthesized via hydriding and nitriding the metal shavings at 900°C and 1500°C, respectively. Also, a novel ball-milling synthesis route was used to produce cerium nitride and dysprosium nitride from the metal shavings at room temperature. Dysprosium nitride was also produced by reacting the metal shavings in a high purity nitrogen gas stream at 1300°C. All materials were characterized by phase analysis via x-ray diffraction. Only the high purity materials were further analyzed via chemical analysis to characterize the trace oxygen concentration.