Advanced synthetic routes towards thorium dioxide doped with lanthanides

This study mainly focused on two aspects of pellet synthesis: the milling of thorium dioxide and the doping of that powder with soluble lanthanide compounds. The milling was performed with different ball mills and milling materials. Dry and wet milling techniques were also tested for comparison of the end result. The other goal was to investigate whether it is feasible to produce ceramic pellets of thorium dioxide doped with soluble lanthanide compounds via wet milling. This in extension to already studied solid-state synthesis of thorium dioxide mixed with lanthanide oxides. Lastly, a study of soluble lanthanide compounds (cerium and gadolinium) was performed, with an evaluation of their properties.