DOE OSTI2022
UI4(1,4-dioxane) 2 was subjected to laser-based heating-a method that enables localized, fast heating (T > 2000 °C) and rapid cooling under controlled conditions (scan rate, power, atmosphere, etc.)-to understand its thermal decomposition. A predictive computational thermodynamic technique estimated the decomposition temperature of UI 4 (1,4-dioxane) 2 to uranium (U) metal to be 2236 °C, a temperature achievable under laser irradiation. Dictated by the presence of reactive, gaseous byproducts, the thermal decomposition of UI 4 (1,4-dioxane) 2 under furnace conditions up to 600 °C revealed the formation of UO 2 , UI x , and U(C 1–x O x ) y , while under laser irradiation, UI 4 (1,4-dioxane) 2 decomposed to UO 2 , U(C 1–x O x ) y , UC 2–z O z , and UC. Despite the fast dynamics associated with laser irradiation, the central uranium atom reacted with the thermal decomposition products of the ligand (1,4-dioxane = C 4 H 8 O 2 ) instead of producing pure U metal. In conclusion, the results highlight the potential to co-develop uranium precursors with specific irradiation procedures to advance nuclear materials research by finding new pathways to produce uranium carbide.