First experimental evidence by SIMS of different surface binding energies for uranium according to its oxidation state

The existence of two peaks in the energy spectrum of uranium was evidenced for the first time with SIMS during the sputtering of a UO2 sample as a function of the oxidation state of the surface. The surface oxidation state was quantitatively determined using the O18 method. These two peaks were attributed to two different surface binding energies of uranium. Since their relative intensities change as a function the surface oxidation state, the two surface binding energies must be associated with two different oxidation states of uranium.

Research highlights► Evidence of two peaks in the energy spectrum of U sputtered from UO2. ► Change of their relative intensity with surface oxygenation measured by O18 method. ► Attribution of the two peaks to at least two different oxidation states of uranium. ► Interpretation of the energy spectrum as a function of uranium surface oxidation.