Kinetic study on the grain growth of PuO2 nanocrystals

Kinetic measurements on the grain growth of PuO2 nano-crystals are presented. On the basis of isothermal XRD measurements at temperatures of 820 °C, 900 °C, 1000 °C, and 1100 °C the activation energy for the crystallite growth of PuO2 nanopowder is determined as 351(5) kJ mol−1 in the temperature range from 820 to 1000 °C. Modelling shows that in this T range growth happens likely through surface diffusion.