Characterization of uranium tetrafluoride (UF 4 ) with Raman spectroscopy

Multiple uranium tetrafluoride (UF 4 ) Raman spectra have been proposed since 1970 by several authors. The contradicting results by different researchers are likely the combination of the inherently weak UF 4 Raman spectrum, lack of modern instrumentation, the presence of a strong fluorescence background and environmental or laser‐induced decomposition products. Six laser wavelengths were used to investigate the Raman spectrum of UF 4 . UF 4 demonstrated 16 distinct Raman bands within the 50–400 cm −1 Raman shift region that are representative of various F–F vibrational modes. A combined scanning electron microscopy and in situ Raman probe was used to demonstrate chemical structure information, elemental composition and morphological features of UF 4 particles.Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.