Angle-resolved polarized Raman spectroscopy for distinguishing stage-I graphite intercalation compounds with Thorium, Uranium and Plutonium

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that angle-resolved polarized Raman spectroscopy can effectively distinguish stage-I graphite intercalation compounds with Thorium, Uranium, and Plutonium, aiding in their microstructure identification.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of polarized Raman spectroscopy for identifying actinide-based GICs at the atomic scale.

Findings

Phonon spectra calculated for Th, U, Pu GICs.

Successful microstructure identification using Raman spectroscopy.

Differentiation of actinide GICs based on spectral features.

Abstract

Graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) with the geometrical anisotropy and strong electron-phonon coupling are in full swing and have shown their great potential for applications in nanodevices. I selected representative three elements in actinide group with valence electron arrangement: Thorium (Th) ([Rn]6d27s2), Uranium (U) ([Rn]5f36d17s2), Plutonium (Pu) ([Rn]5f67s2). I calculated their phonon spectra and demonstrated the atomic-scale microstructure identification of actinide graphite intercalation compounds by angle-resolved polarized Raman spectroscopy.