urandioxid

Uranium dioxide, also known as uranous oxide or urania, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula UO2. It is a black solid and is the most stable oxide of uranium. Uranium dioxide is naturally occurring as the mineral uraninite, which is the main ore of uranium.

In its pure form, uranium dioxide is a crystalline solid with a cubic crystal structure. It is practically insoluble in water and most acids, but it can be dissolved in concentrated nitric acid or sulfuric acid. Uranium dioxide is a semiconductor and exhibits a unique electrical conductivity that is temperature-dependent.

The primary use of uranium dioxide is as a nuclear fuel in nuclear power plants. It is the most common fuel used in light-water reactors, where it is fabricated into fuel pellets and then assembled into fuel rods. When uranium-235, an isotope present in natural uranium, undergoes nuclear fission, it releases a large amount of energy, which is harnessed to generate electricity. Uranium dioxide is also used in some research reactors and in the production of other uranium compounds.

Beyond its nuclear applications, uranium dioxide has been explored for use in solid oxide fuel cells due to its electrical conductivity. However, its radioactivity and the complexities of handling radioactive materials limit its widespread use in non-nuclear applications. The production of uranium dioxide involves several steps, starting from the mining of uranium ore, followed by milling, purification, and conversion into the desired oxide form.