Phase evolution and microstructural studies of Gd1 − xYbxPO4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) ceramics for radioactive waste storage

Rare-earth phosphates (REPO4) represent one candidate to contain minor actinides separated from used nuclear fuel. In this work, the Gd1 − xYbxPO4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) series is synthesized via conventional solid-state reaction using Gd as the surrogate for trivalent actinides (Am, Cm), with microstructure/phase structure characterized by XRD, XPS, HRTEM and SEM as well. Solid solutions of monazite- and xenotime-type compounds are observed in the system. The structural boundary between two phases is based on the experimental temperature. The monazite → xenotime transformation is most likely to occur on a (2 0 0) monazite plane along the [0 2 0] zone. The pure xenotime-type crystalline phase with Gd0.9Yb0.1PO4 composition is obtained at 1600 °C.