RadIAEM:Analytical Electron Microscope with in situ capability for beta, gamma active materials

RadIAEM：具有原位分析 β、γ 活性材料能力的分析电子显微镜

• 批准号: EP/V035886/1
• 负责人: M. Grace Burke
• 金额: $ 71.72万
• 依托单位: University of Manchester
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2021 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FV035886%2F1
• 关键词: RadIAEM; Analytical; Electron; Microscope; situ

This project is related to the ambition for the UK low C future. Nuclear energy is a dependable low-C source for UK energy needs, and considerable research is in progress to develop improved advanced reactors to fill the increasing demand for power. Materials research and development is an essential part of advanced reactor system designs, and it is this area that is addressed in RadIAEM. The ability to study and optimize materials used in nuclear power systems requires the detailed analysis of the effects of neutron radiation on the nano-scale microstructure of materials, since the microstructure controls the materials behaviour. RadIAEM is an advanced Analytical Electron Microscope (AEM) dedicated for neutron-irradiated materials with the unique ability to view in real time nanoscale and microscale changes that can occur in the samples at elevated temperatures and also in a variety of gas environments. With RadIAEM (Radioactive In situ AEM) it will be possible to perform world-leading research that is essential to understand the microstructural effects of neutron irradiation on materials for advanced nuclear fission and fusion reactors. This type of research cannot be performed in universities as the samples of interest must be studied in a special laboratory, so we will establish a national RadIAEM user facility located at the UKAEA Materials Research Facility. RadIAEM will enable us to study nanoscale irradiation-induced features that cause hardening and changes in toughness as well as identify ways that we can tailor microstructures to provide improved performance. The novel in-situ capability permit specimens to be heated up to 1000C as the research scientist studies the change in nanoscale microstructure and the nanoscale changes in composition. The reaction of irradiated materials (steels, nickel alloys, graphite and other materials) with various gaseous environments of interest in advanced reactors can also be investigated in RadIAEM. RadIAEM will benefit from the wealth of electron microscopy and in situ Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) expertise at the Universities of Manchester, Birmingham, Oxford and Sheffield as well as from the major experts at UKAEA, electron Physical Science Imaging Centre (ePSIC) and SuperSTEM. It will also be possible to study a wide range of materials using a variety of AEM-based techniques using RadIAEM, and also provide the ability to work with various types of TEM samples. RadIAEM will also provide advanced training in TEM diffraction-based analysis of irradiation-induced defects, general AEM training, and training in the unique and exciting in situ techniques to nuclear materials scientists, especially the young researchers, who will be tomorrow's nuclear scientists and engineers.

该项目与英国低碳未来的雄心有关。核能是满足英国能源需求的可靠低碳能源，目前正在进行大量研究，以开发改进的先进反应堆，以满足日益增长的电力需求。材料研究和开发是先进反应堆系统设计的一个重要组成部分，RadIAEM所涉及的正是这一领域。研究和优化核电系统中使用的材料的能力需要详细分析中子辐射对材料纳米级微观结构的影响，因为微观结构控制着材料的行为。RadIAEM是一种先进的分析电子显微镜（AEM），专用于中子辐照材料，具有独特的能力，可以在高温和各种气体环境下观察样品中可能发生的真实的纳米级和微米级变化。有了RadIAEM（放射性原位AEM），就有可能进行世界领先的研究，这对于了解中子辐照对先进核裂变和聚变反应堆材料的微观结构影响至关重要。此类研究无法在大学进行，因为感兴趣的样本必须在特殊实验室中进行研究，因此我们将在UKAEA材料研究设施建立一个国家RadIAEM用户设施。RadIAEM将使我们能够研究纳米级辐照引起的特性，这些特性会导致硬化和韧性变化，并确定我们可以定制微结构以提供更好性能的方法。新的原位能力允许样品被加热到1000 ℃，因为研究科学家研究纳米级微观结构的变化和成分的纳米级变化。辐射材料（钢、镍合金、石墨和其他材料）与先进反应堆中各种感兴趣的气体环境的反应也可以在RadIAEM中进行研究。RadIAEM将受益于曼彻斯特大学、伯明翰大学、牛津大学和谢菲尔德大学丰富的电子显微镜和原位透射电子显微镜（TEM）专业知识，以及UKAEA、电子物理科学成像中心（ePSIC）和SuperSTEM的主要专家。它还可以使用各种基于AEM的技术使用RadIAEM研究各种材料，并提供使用各种类型的TEM样品的能力。RadIAEM还将为核材料科学家，特别是年轻的研究人员提供基于TEM衍射的辐射诱导缺陷分析的高级培训、一般AEM培训以及独特且令人兴奋的原位技术培训，他们将成为明天的核科学家和工程师。