In Situ Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy Study of Studtite Particle Formation and Growth via Electron Beam Radiolysis.

This study presents in situ observations of studtite (UOO(HO)·2HO) crystal growth utilizing liquid phase transmission electron microscopy (LP-TEM). Studtite was precipitated from a uranyl nitrate hexahydrate solution using hydrogen peroxide formed by the radiolysis of water in the TEM electron beam. The hydrogen peroxide (HO) concentration, directly controlled by the electron beam current, was varied to create local environments of low and high concentrations to compare the impact of the supersaturation ratio on the nucleation and growth mechanisms of studtite particles.