Innovative materials for energy generation, transportation and storage

这项拟议的研究是我们关于能源生产、运输和储存的创新材料解决方案计划的继续。这项研究集中在三个领域：A)用于未来核反应堆的事故容错核燃料(ATF)，B)用于石油和天然气运输的具有更高抗故障能力的先进管线钢，C)用于未来清洁能源经济的氢基储能系统。A)可容忍事故的燃料。未来核反应堆的发展在很大程度上取决于ATF的设计。我们已经在基于ThO2和UO2的燃料方面做了大量工作，并获得了极大的热导率改善。在这个方案中，我们将研究先进的掺杂ThO2芯块的结构和热机械性能。新型放电等离子烧结技术将用于制备理论密度接近100%的球团矿。新的实验技术将首次用于研究微结构特征对球团矿性能的影响。此外，计算模拟还将用于预测球团在运行和事故期间的热机械性能。这项研究将有助于新型燃料的开发和了解此类燃料在高温和辐射损伤下的性能。B)先进管线钢。氢致开裂(HIC)、应力腐蚀开裂(SCC)和低温韧性恶化是天然气和石油管道安全输送的重要问题。我们提出了一种新型织构工程化管线钢，它可以缓解HIC和SCC。在这项建议中，我们将开发热机械控制工艺，以增强良好的织构，细化组织，改变X100钢的相组成，增强力学性能和抗HIC和SCC性能。我们将与管线钢制造商Evraz和Canmet实验室合作。除了经济损失外，管道的失效对环境造成了巨大的后果，本研究的目标是提高管道的抗失效能力。C)氢基储能系统。我们已经开发出新型的金属-石墨烯纳米结构，可以存储的氢量是美国能源部宣布的2019年重量目标的两倍。在这项提议中，我们希望用纳米纤维素替代碳纳米管和石墨烯来开发廉价的储氢介质。新的体系将被用来将金属纳米粒子结合到纳米结构的纤维素表面，基于同步加速器的技术将被用于电子结构表征，计算模拟将被用来研究金属与纳米纤维素和氢原子和分子的相互作用。这项研究的最终目标是实现可持续的氢气经济。

The proposed research is a continuation of our program on innovative materials-based solutions for energy generation, transportation and storage. This research is focused on three areas: A) Accident tolerant nuclear fuels (ATFs) for future nuclear reactors, B) Advanced pipeline steels with improved resistance to failure for oil and gas transportation, C) Hydrogen-based energy storage system for the future clean energy economy. A) Accident Tolerant Fuels. The development of the future nuclear reactors, to a large extent, depends on the design of ATFs. We have already done a lot of work in ThO2- and UO2-based fuels and obtained greatly improved thermal conductivity. In this proposal, we will study the structure and the thermo-mechanical properties of advanced doped ThO2 pellets. Novel spark plasma sintering technique will be used for manufacturing pellets with nearly 100% theoretical densities. The novel experimental techniques will be used for the first time to study the influence of microstructural characteristics on the properties of pellets. Also, the computational simulation will be used to provide prediction of the thermo-mechanical properties of pellets during operation and accident. This study will contribute to the development of new fuels and understanding of properties of such fuels under high temperature and irradiation damage. B) Advanced Pipeline Steels. Hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC), stress corrosion cracking (SCC) and deterioration of low-temperature toughness are important concerns for the safe transport of natural gas and oil by pipelines. We proposed novel texture-engineered pipeline steel that can mitigate HIC and SCC. In this proposal, we will develop thermo-mechanical control processing that enhances favorable texture, refine microstructure, modify the phase composition of X100 steels, and strengthen the mechanical properties and the resistance to HIC and SCC. We will collaborate with the manufacturer of pipeline steels Evraz and Canmet Laboratory. In addition to financial losses, failure of pipelines has immense consequences for the environment, and this research targets improvement of the resistance to failure. C) Hydrogen-based Energy Storage Systems. We have developed novel metal-graphene nanostructures that allow the storage of hydrogen in amounts that double the capacity of the gravimetric target announced by the U.S. Department of Energy for 2019. In this proposal, we expect to develop inexpensive hydrogen storage media using nanocellulose as a replacement of carbon nanotube and graphene. Novel system will be used for the incorporation of metal nanoparticles on the surface of nanostructured cellulose, synchrotron-based technique will be used for electronic structure characterization, and the computational simulation will be used to investigate the interaction of the metal with nanocellulose and hydrogen atoms and molecules. This study targets the ultimate aim, the realization of a sustainable hydrogen-based economy.