252Cf、238Pu与237Np三种核素的生产供应

²⁵²Cf、²³⁸Pu、²³⁷Np三种核素是用于深空探测和核能发电等领域的重要放射性同位素，国内主要依靠进口，来源有限。了解这三种核素的生产供应情况，对国内开展相关研究工作有重要参考价值。本文分别介绍了²⁵²Cf、²³⁸Pu、²³⁷Np的特性和用途，并概述了其生产供应情况。目前²⁵²Cf主要在美国橡树岭国家实验室（ORNL）和俄罗斯原子反应堆研究所（RIAR）的高中子通量反应堆辐照生产。冷战结束之后，²³⁸Pu两大生产国——美国和俄罗斯的生产能力逐渐丧失，随着深空探测任务对同位素电池的需求，近些年美俄两国正在陆续恢复生产。²³⁷Np作为²³⁸Pu生产的原材料，主要存在于裂变产物或高放废物中，通过后处理流程分离提取。为保障国内反应堆的稳定运行和深空探测任务的开展，建议尽快实现上述三种战略核素的自主供应能力。

Production and Supply of 252Cf, 238Pu and 237Np

²⁵²Cf, ²³⁸Pu and ²³⁷Np are important radioisotopes in deep space exploration and nuclear electric power generation. These radionuclides have been mainly imported from overseas, and their supply chains are limited. Supply shortage of the three radionuclides will seriously affect the development of national economy, space technology and national security. It is of great value to get information on the production and supply of the three nuclides in domestic related research fields. The characteristics and applications of ²⁵²Cf, ²³⁸Pu and ²³⁷Np are introduced respectively, and the production and supply of ²⁵²Cf, ²³⁸Pu and ²³⁷Np are summarized. ²⁵²Cf and ²³⁸Pu are mainly produced in the high neutron flux reactor of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the Russian Institute of Atomic Reactor Research (RIAR). After Cold War, production capacity of the ²³⁸Pu was gradually lost in the United States and Russia, which have been resuming production in recent years as isotopic batteries are demanded for deep space exploration missions. As the raw material of ²³⁸Pu production, ²³⁷Np mainly exists in fission products or high-level radioactive wastes, and ²³⁷Np is mainly separated and extracted through the post-treatment process from fission products. In order to ensure the stable operation of domestic reactors and the development of deep space exploration missions, it is suggested to realize the autonomous supply capability of the three strategic nuclides as soon as possible.