Synchrotron-based techniques are increasingly used to characterize radioactive materials and elucidate determinant processes relevant to the nuclear fuel cycle. Many recent advances are driven by the need to characterize such materials with high resolution, for example spatial resolution for studies of localized components of heterogeneous systems and energy resolution for characterising the 5f-element oxidation state. Examples of synchrotron-based investigations into f-element chemistry are presented, which illustrate utilizing such high resolution, while pointing out various aspects of synchrotron R&D related to the nuclear fuel cycle. Specifically an example related to separation chemistry performance, an example elucidating immobilisation processes in bedrock, and high energy X-ray emission spectral fingerprint for hexavalent uranium are summarised. Synchrotron-based tools are providing insight into f-element chemistry and geochemistry and are providing data for benchmarking theoretical calculations; the future looks bright.