Application of α-spectrometry to the study of U diffusion in nuclear reactor materials

► Alpha-spectrometry was successfully applied to the study of U diffusion in metals. ► Diffusion profiles as shorts as several tens of nm are analyzable. ► Minimum diffusion coefficient measurable is in the order of 10−21 m2 s−1. ► Determination of U diffusion coefficients at temperatures below 0.5 Tf is attainable. ► A minimum solid solubility between 0.1 and 1 at.% of U in the matrix is required.