Uranium dioxide-based crystals and methods of fabrication

A method of synthesizing uranium dioxide crystals, the method comprising:

• combining a uranium-based feedstock with a mineralizer solution, the uranium-based feedstock selected from the group consisting of uranium dioxide, uranium tetrafluoride, uranium tetrachloride, triuranium octoxide, and uranium trioxide;
• adding a seed crystal to the uranium-based feedstock and the mineralizer solution;
• pressurizing the uranium-based feedstock and the mineralizer solution with the seed crystal;
• and
• applying a thermal gradient to the pressurized uranium-based feedstock, the mineralizer solution, and the seed crystal such that a first portion of the uranium-based feedstock and the mineralizer solution is heated to a temperature that is greater than a temperature of a second portion of the feedstock and the mineralizer solution,
• wherein uranium nutrient enters the mineralizer solution from the feedstock in the first portion and uranium nutrient precipitates to spontaneously form crystals on the seed crystal in the second portion.

A method of synthesizing uranium dioxide crystals, the method comprising:

• combining a uranium-based feedstock with a mineralizer solution, the uranium-based feedstock selected from the group consisting of uranium dioxide, uranium tetrafluoride, uranium tetrachloride, triuranium octoxide, and uranium trioxide;
• placing the feedstock with the mineralizer solution in an ampoule;
• pressurizing the feedstock and the mineralizer solution in the ampoule;
• and
• applying a thermal gradient to the pressurized feedstock and the mineralizer solution such that a first portion of the feedstock and the mineralizer solution is heated to a temperature that is greater than a temperature of a second portion of the feedstock and the mineralizer solution,
• wherein uranium nutrient enters the mineralizer solution from the feedstock in the first portion and uranium nutrient precipitates to spontaneously form crystals in the second portion.