Major Breakthrough! China Achieves First Domestic Production of →

Recently, the China National Nuclear Corporation’s Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry (and its affiliated company) successfully produced kilogram-scale molybdenum-100 isotope with 99% isotopic enrichment through independent R&D. This marks China’s first major breakthrough in achieving self-reliant supply of critical molybdenum isotopes—ending long-standing complete dependence on imports. It signifies that China has reached world-leading levels in high-enrichment stable isotope research and has joined the select group of countries capable of mass-producing molybdenum isotopes. Molybdenum (Mo) isotopes hold broad application prospects in nuclear medicine, fundamental physics, and advanced nuclear fuel research. • In nuclear medicine, highly enriched molybdenum-98 and molybdenum-100 serve as precursor nuclides for producing radioactive molybdenum-99, which decays to technetium-99m—the most widely used diagnostic radionuclide in clinical nuclear medicine today. • In fundamental physics, highly enriched molybdenum-100 is employed in neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments—a key frontier in international particle and nuclear physics research, crucial for probing fundamental neutrino properties and understanding cosmic evolution. • In advanced nuclear fuel research, depleted molybdenum-95—whose melting point exceeds that of zirconium (the primary nuclear fuel cladding material) by 760°C—can be used to fabricate high-temperature-resistant nuclear fuel assemblies, significantly enhancing safety performance and supporting the safe, green development of nuclear power.

92. Uranium Element and Common Measurement Methods

1. Applications of Uranium Uranium is an important radioactive metallic element with broad applications across multiple fields, including: 1. Nuclear Energy Industry: Uranium serves as the primary nuclear fuel. Through nuclear fission, it releases vast amounts of energy for electricity generation and nuclear weapons production. Nuclear power plants use uranium fuel to produce steam that drives turbine generators. Additionally, uranium is used as fissile material in nuclear warheads. 2. Medical Applications: Uranium and its isotopes play vital roles in medical diagnostics and therapy. Uranium isotopes are commonly employed as radioactive tracers for disease diagnosis and monitoring—for example, in oncology. They are also used in radiotherapy, such as targeted radiation treatment for cancer. 3. Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Uranium is integral to post-irradiation processing and reuse within the nuclear fuel cycle. Spent nuclear fuel still contains residual unburned uranium and newly generated nuclides; reprocessing these wastes enables recovery of reusable uranium and other valuable isotopes, thereby reducing radioactivity and environmental impact. 4. Scientific Research: Uranium’s radioactivity makes it indispensable in scientific research—including radioactive calibration, radiation measurement, and laboratory investigations. 5. Industrial Uses: Uranium and its compounds find niche industrial applications—for instance, as pigments, ceramic glazes, and glass colorants. As a critical radioactive metal, uranium has wide-ranging utility—but its inherent risks and challenges must always be carefully managed through robust safety measures and sustainable practices. Future technological advancement demands deeper exploration of uranium’s potential, alongside strengthened research, regulation, and oversight concerning safety and environmental protection—to ensure humanity’s sustainable prosperity and progress. 2. Physical Properties of Uranium Uranium is a heavy metal with distinctive physical characteristics: 1. Appearance: Uranium is a silvery-white, lustrous metal. Upon exposure to air or water, its surface oxidizes rapidly, forming a dark gray oxide layer—causing its appearance to gradually change over time. 2. Density: Uranium has an exceptionally high density (~19.1 g/cm³), approximately 70% greater than lead—making it especially valuable in nuclear and defense applications. 3. Hardness: Uranium exhibits hardness comparable to steel, providing sufficient mechanical rigidity for machining and fabrication. 4. Radioactivity: Uranium is weakly radioactive, occurring primarily as two isotopes—uranium-238 (half-life ≈ 4.47 billion years) and uranium-235 (half-life ≈ 704 million years). This radioactivity underpins its importance in nuclear power and weapons. 5. Reactivity: Chemically reactive, uranium readily combines with many elements. In air, its surface quickly forms an oxide layer—typically dark gray or brown uranium oxide—which offers partial passivation but does not fully prevent further oxidation under certain conditions. 6. Melting and Boiling Points: Uranium melts at ~1132°C and boils at ~4131°C—high values enabling retention of solid-state integrity under extreme thermal conditions. 7. Electrical and Thermal Conductivity: Uranium possesses relatively high electrical and thermal conductivity, making it potentially useful in specialized electronic and thermal management applications. 8. Isotopes: Uranium has several naturally occurring isotopes, chiefly uranium-234, uranium-235, and uranium-238—each differing slightly in physical and chemical behavior, particularly regarding radioactivity and half-life. 9. Crystal Structure

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