| abstract |
A<238>Pu<16>O2 fuel for a heart pacemaker battery is produced on an essentially two-stage process wherein, in the first stage, <238>Pu<nat>O2 is reduced with graphite to form the sequicarbide <238>Pu2C3 and, in the second stage, the carbide is converted to <238>Pu<16>O2 by using water depleted in <17>O and <18>O. The product, which can be made reproducibly, has radiation characteristics well within those recommended for bio-medical use. |