Application of novel ceramic synthesis to the development of lithium-containing fuels for nuclear fusion
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Materials Science and Engineering
Abstract
Nuclear fusion is an attractive alternative to fission because it offers the potential for power generation without the production of greenhouse gases and long-lived radioactive waste. One of the greatest challenges in adopting fusion lies in developing materials that can withstand the extreme environment of a fusion reactor, where isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium and tritium, will fuse together, releasing enormous amounts of energy. It is proposed that tritium will be produced within the fusion reactor, in a region called the breeder blanket, with lithium-containing ceramics as candidates for the tritium breeder material.
Tritium extraction from the breeder is dependent on breeder material density, with optimum tritium recovery reported in samples with >90% of theoretical density. Lithium reacts with air and so it is difficult to produce dense ceramics using standard methods. Furthermore, nano-scale defects have been observed in Li-ceramics produced by standard methods, which could have serious implications for the suitability of these materials as a fuel for fusion.
At the University of Sheffield, we have developed novel low-temperature synthesis methods, which show great promise in producing dense, Li-ceramics. This project will explore the use of these methods to produce defect free, dense Li-ceramics for fusion. Once fabricated, the in-reactor performance of these materials will be determined using techniques that simulate experimentally the impact of the fusion environment on materials.
Tritium extraction from the breeder is dependent on breeder material density, with optimum tritium recovery reported in samples with >90% of theoretical density. Lithium reacts with air and so it is difficult to produce dense ceramics using standard methods. Furthermore, nano-scale defects have been observed in Li-ceramics produced by standard methods, which could have serious implications for the suitability of these materials as a fuel for fusion.
At the University of Sheffield, we have developed novel low-temperature synthesis methods, which show great promise in producing dense, Li-ceramics. This project will explore the use of these methods to produce defect free, dense Li-ceramics for fusion. Once fabricated, the in-reactor performance of these materials will be determined using techniques that simulate experimentally the impact of the fusion environment on materials.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Amy Gandy (Primary Supervisor) | |
Enrique Casanas Montesdeoca (Student) |