nuclear energy's future, page-52

Researchers use light to create rare uranium molecule
Opening a new field of study to understand uranium nitrides as a promising alternative to traditional nuclear fuels.
LOS ALAMOS, New Mexico, July 12, 2010?For the first time ever, scientists have used light energy to create a rare molecular uranium nitride (U-N) complex containing a discrete terminal U-N unit, where the nitrogen atom is bonded only to the one uranium atom, versus prior work where the nitrogen atom has always been bonded to two or more uranium atoms.

Scientists used photolysis on a uranium azide?a molecule containing one uranium atom and three nitrogen atoms?exposing it to ultraviolet light and using the energy from a photon to break off nitrogen gas, resulting in a molecule with a single uranium nitride group.

This breakthrough is important because uranium nitride materials show promise as advanced nuclear fuels due to their high density, high stability, and high thermal conductivity?enabling them to run cooler in advanced reactors.

http://www.lanl.gov/news/releases/researchers_use_light_to_create_rare_uranium_molecule_newsrelease.html