Synthesis and Characterization of Doped CeO2 as a Surrogate Nuclear Fuel
Additional Funding Sources
The project described was supported by the National Science Foundation via the Research Experience for Undergraduates Site: Materials for Society (Award Nos. DMR 1658076 and 1950305) and by Boise State University. In addition, work was funded through an NEUP-IUP fellowship (DOE-FOA-0001487) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (DE-ACOS-00OR22725).
Presentation Date
7-2021
Abstract
Nuclear energy provides a high capacity factor, safe and reliable energy for the world. Currently, uranium dioxide (UO2) is used in light water reactors (LWRs) and several factors have been identified for improved reliability, safety, and performance. For example, fission gasses released during reactor operation increase the pressure in the cladding-fuel gap of fuel rods, reducing efficiency and reliability of the fuel. Promising results have shown that increasing grain size can improve fission gas retention by increasing the mean free diffusion path for these insoluble gasses. This project focuses on the investigation of two additives in cerium dioxide (CeO2) as a surrogate fuel for UO2. X-Ray diffraction (XRD), percent theoretical density (%TD), optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) are the techniques used to characterize titanium oxide-doped (TiO2) and manganese oxide-doped (MnO2) CeO2 samples. The purpose of this work was to verify the procedure for introducing the correct amount of dopant into each CeO2 sample. XRD showed a single phase was consistent in all samples. Average grain size analysis confirmed in MnO2-doped CeO2 samples that adding small amounts (500 wppm-10000 wppm) increases the grain size. MnO2-doped samples that maintained ≥ 95%TD had concentrations of 2500 wppm and 10000 wppm sintered at 1200°C and 500-1000 wppm sintered at 1500°C. MnO2-doped and TiO2-doped CeO2 samples saw an increase in average grain size with a decrease in %TD as dopant concentration increased. ICP-MS confirmed chemical composition of samples.
Synthesis and Characterization of Doped CeO2 as a Surrogate Nuclear Fuel
Nuclear energy provides a high capacity factor, safe and reliable energy for the world. Currently, uranium dioxide (UO2) is used in light water reactors (LWRs) and several factors have been identified for improved reliability, safety, and performance. For example, fission gasses released during reactor operation increase the pressure in the cladding-fuel gap of fuel rods, reducing efficiency and reliability of the fuel. Promising results have shown that increasing grain size can improve fission gas retention by increasing the mean free diffusion path for these insoluble gasses. This project focuses on the investigation of two additives in cerium dioxide (CeO2) as a surrogate fuel for UO2. X-Ray diffraction (XRD), percent theoretical density (%TD), optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) are the techniques used to characterize titanium oxide-doped (TiO2) and manganese oxide-doped (MnO2) CeO2 samples. The purpose of this work was to verify the procedure for introducing the correct amount of dopant into each CeO2 sample. XRD showed a single phase was consistent in all samples. Average grain size analysis confirmed in MnO2-doped CeO2 samples that adding small amounts (500 wppm-10000 wppm) increases the grain size. MnO2-doped samples that maintained ≥ 95%TD had concentrations of 2500 wppm and 10000 wppm sintered at 1200°C and 500-1000 wppm sintered at 1500°C. MnO2-doped and TiO2-doped CeO2 samples saw an increase in average grain size with a decrease in %TD as dopant concentration increased. ICP-MS confirmed chemical composition of samples.