Reaction Mechanisms in Talc under Ionizing Radiation: Evidence of a High Stability of H - CEA - Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives Accéder directement au contenu
Article Dans Une Revue Journal of Physical Chemistry C Année : 2016

Reaction Mechanisms in Talc under Ionizing Radiation: Evidence of a High Stability of H

Résumé

The reactivity under ionizing radiation of synthetic and natural talc was studied. The two samples were chosen as models of nonswelling clays. H 2 production measurements evidenced that the H 2 yield in synthetic talc was of the same order of magnitude as in water, implying a very efficient production, and then recombination, of hydrogen atoms arising from the lysis of structural −OH groups. This yield was 30 times smaller in natural talc. The discrepancy between synthetic and natural talc is most likely related to transition elements cationic impurities in the latter. Even if they are present in very small amounts, they are able to efficiently scavenge the electrons and/or the hydrogen atoms. The produced defects in irradiated synthetic talc were investigated by means of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, which enabled proposing reaction mechanisms. Lastly, the EPR spectra evidenced the presence, at 298 K, of hydrogen atoms, which were detected few days after irradiation in both types of talc. This surprisingly high stability was mainly attributed to the absence of water molecules. It is proposed that the hydrogen atoms are stabilized in octahedra between two tetraedra sheets. ■ INTRODUCTION The radiolytic decomposition of water or of −OH groups has a significant impact on processes relevant for the nuclear industry. 1−7 Thus, the radiolytically H 2 formed by this decomposition might lead to explosion and overpressure hazards inside the reactor or in waste packages. In some countries, natural and engineered clay barriers are considered as possible protections for the disposal of high activity and long life-medium activity radioactive wastes. 8−10 It is therefore of paramount importance to understand how ionizing radiation affects clay minerals, and their corresponding reactivity, which is scarcely done in the literature. 3,11−16

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Matériaux
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Dates et versions

cea-01294351 , version 1 (29-03-2016)

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Maxime Lainé, Thierry Allard, Etienne Balan, François Martin, H. Jurgen von Bardeleben, et al.. Reaction Mechanisms in Talc under Ionizing Radiation: Evidence of a High Stability of H. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2016, 120, pp.2087-2095. ⟨10.1021/acs.jpcc.5b11396⟩. ⟨cea-01294351⟩
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