Public Abstract

DE-SC0001089: Materials Science of Actinides

Award Status: Inactive

Institution: University of Notre Dame du Lac, Notre Dame, IN
UEI: FPU6XGFXMBE9
DUNS: 824910376

Most Recent Award Date: 08/01/2018
Number of Support Periods: 5
PM: Wilk, Philip

Current Budget Period: 08/01/2017 - 07/31/2019
Current Project Period: 08/01/2014 - 07/31/2019
PI: Burns, Peter

Supplement Budget Period: N/A

Public Abstract

The Energy Frontier Research Center Materials Science of Actinides (MSA) unites the efforts of 16 senior investigators at 8 universities and a national laboratory to conduct novel and transformative research in actinides materials science. Actinides, all of which are radioactive, have unique societal importance in energy production, national security, medical isotope production, and environmental contamination. They are the fuels of nuclear energy, and are major radioactive constituents of nuclear waste. MSA research focuses on the fundamental science of actinide-based materials, especially those with nanoscale, hybrid, and other complex structures, their properties in extreme environments of high temperature, pressure, and radiation field, and effective integration of experimental and computational approaches. We emphasize the importance of actinide material science to address societal issues such as securing the U.S. energy future, radionuclide release during nuclear accidents, and safe disposal of nuclear wastes produced by the nuclear fuel cycle. Research is organized into four theme areas: (1) Nanoscale cage clusters, (2) Complex ceramic and metallic materials (fuels and waste forms), (3) Hybrid materials, and (4) Materials under extreme environments. Cross-cutting research themes to foster integration are: (1) Novel synthesis methods for actinide materials across length scales, (2) Thermodynamics of actinide materials across length scales, (3) Integration of computational analysis and experimental results for actinide materials, and (4) Relevance of all research to the nuclear fuel cycle. The research objectives of this EFRC are: (a) Developing nanoscale control of actinides in solution using actinide-oxide-peroxide clusters, establishing an understanding of the role of 5f electrons in bonding at the nanoscale, and measuring the energetics of nanoscale and mesoscale actinide materials; (b) Measuring and interpreting thermochemical and related properties (e.g., heats of formation, heat capacity, thermal expansion, elasticity), comparison, and simulations of actinide metals, nitrides, carbides, and oxides containing U, Np and Pu to guide theory and to provide critical data for next-generation nuclear reactors; (c) Experimental identification and theoretical modeling of excitations of actinide intermetallics beyond the physics of ab initio electronic structure models; (d) Applying high temperatures, pressures, and intense radiation fields to actinide materials to determine effects on the structures and stabilities of actinide oxides, and to synthesize new actinide materials; and (e) Using high-energy ion beams to deposit extremely high amounts of energy into small volumes of actinide materials to investigate the response of these actinide materials far from equilibrium. The MSA management plan calls for a Director (P.C. Burns) advised by a Scientific Advisory Board of distinguished external scholars, an Executive Committee consisting of the co-investigators, and a Research Advisory Committee consisting of the eight research-theme leads. The management structure emphasizes high-risk, high-reward fundamental actinide materials research. The workforce development plan focuses on education of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, and incorporates extensive research experiences for undergraduates with the major goal to nurture young scientists into actinide science.

The Energy Frontier Research Center Materials Science of Actinides (MSA) unites the efforts of 16 senior investigators at 8 universities and a national laboratory to conduct novel and transformative research in actinides materials science. Actinides, all of which are radioactive, have unique societal importance in energy production, national security, medical isotope production, and environmental contamination. They are the fuels of nuclear energy, and are major radioactive constituents of nuclear waste.

MSA research focuses on the fundamental science of actinide-based materials, especially those with nanoscale, hybrid, and other complex structures, their properties in extreme environments of high temperature, pressure, and radiation field, and effective integration of experimental and computational approaches. We emphasize the importance of actinide material science to address societal issues such as securing the U.S. energy future, radionuclide release during nuclear accidents, and safe disposal of nuclear wastes produced by the nuclear fuel cycle. Research is organized into four theme areas: (1) Nanoscale cage clusters, (2) Complex ceramic and metallic materials (fuels and waste forms), (3) Hybrid materials, and (4) Materials under extreme environments. Cross-cutting research themes to foster integration are: (1) Novel synthesis methods for actinide materials across length scales, (2) Thermodynamics of actinide materials across length scales, (3) Integration of computational analysis and experimental results for actinide materials, and (4) Relevance of all research to the nuclear fuel cycle.

The research objectives of this EFRC are: (a) Developing nanoscale control of actinides in solution using actinide-oxide-peroxide clusters, establishing an understanding of the role of 5f electrons in bonding at the nanoscale, and measuring the energetics of nanoscale and mesoscale actinide materials; (b) Measuring and interpreting thermochemical and related properties (e.g., heats of formation, heat capacity, thermal expansion, elasticity), comparison, and simulations of actinide metals, nitrides, carbides, and oxides containing U, Np and Pu to guide theory and to provide critical data for next-generation nuclear reactors; (c) Experimental identification and theoretical modeling of excitations of actinide intermetallics beyond the physics of ab initio electronic structure models; (d) Applying high temperatures, pressures, and intense radiation fields to actinide materials to determine effects on the structures and stabilities of actinide oxides, and to synthesize new actinide materials; and (e) Using high-energy ion beams to deposit extremely high amounts of energy into small volumes of actinide materials to investigate the response of these actinide materials far from equilibrium.

The MSA management plan calls for a Director (P.C. Burns) advised by a Scientific Advisory Board of distinguished external scholars, an Executive Committee consisting of the co-investigators, and a Research Advisory Committee consisting of the eight research-theme leads. The management structure emphasizes high-risk, high-reward fundamental actinide materials research. The workforce development plan focuses on education of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, and incorporates extensive research experiences for undergraduates with the major goal to nurture young scientists into actinide science.