Advanced Nuclear Materials Design: Computational and Experimental Investigations

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Nuclear power is a critical energy source to support UK society and economy as it accounts for 20% of UK electricity production. The development of safe nuclear technologies is of paramount importance and depends on the response of materials in the extreme environment of a reactor core. Here, neutron bombardment causes radiation damage which modifies the microstructure of materials and deteriorates their performance.Combining high-performance computing (HPC) and the world-class Microscopes and Ion Accelerators for Materials Investigations (MIAMI) facilities at the University of Huddersfield, we will determine the response of non-oxide ceramics to radiation damage. This class of materials is of particular technological importance for future Generation IV nuclear fission reactors. These investigations will deliver atom-level insights into the structural modification of these materials under neutron bombardment. This combination of complementary modelling and experimental data will feed into the design of 3D nanostructures of non-oxide ceramics with greater resilience to radiation damage. Ultimately the goal is to inform the synthesis of advanced nuclear materials with the ability to recover from and accommodate radiation damage.