Our latest paper is now available from the Journal of Nuclear Materials:

• M.W.D.Cooper, S.T. Murphy, M.J.D. Rushton and R.W. Grimes, “Thermophysical properties and oxygen transport in the (U_x,Pu_1-x)O₂ lattice”, Journal of Nuclear Materials, 461 206–214 (2015) http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2015.03.024

In this paper we build upon a recent body of work using a many-body potential approach (see potentials page) to investigate the thermophysical and diffusion properties of actinide oxides. Using an updated version of the PuO₂ parameter set we have studied the thermal expansion, specific heat capacity, oxygen diffusion and the oxygen point defect energies of (U_x,Pu_1−x)O₂. The results shows that the non-uniform cation lattice has a much smaller effect on the oxygen diffusion in (U_x,Pu_1-x)O₂ compared to (U_x,Th_1-x)O₂. This is expained in terms of the lattice parameter missmatch between the end member oxides and the role this plays in the defect energies.

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Our latest paper on alloying additions in Zr is now available as a pre-print on arXiv:

• P.A. Burr, M.R. Wenman, B. Gault, M.P. Moody, M.Ivermark, M.J.D. Rushton, M. Preuss, L. Edwards and R.W. Grimes, “From solid solution to cluster formation of Fe and Cr in α-Zr”, arXiv preprint (2015). PDF

By combining ab-initio simulations with advanced experimental techniques we investigate the microstructural change of Zr alloys under irradiation Zr alloys are used as nuclear fuel cladding, and their integrity is crucial for the safe production of nuclear power. Of particular concern is the increase in corrosion that is observed when Fe and Cr particles (alloys additions) are dissolved. Dissolution of these particles is related to neutron irradiation, but the mechanisms by which this occurs is still unknown.

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Our latest paper is now available from the Journal of Materials Chemistry A site:

• E.E. Jay, P.M. Fossati, M.J.D. Rushton and R.W. Grimes, “Prediction and Characterisation of Radiation Damage in Fluorapatite”, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, (2014) doi:10.1039/C4TA01707B

In this paper we performed threshold displacement energy calculations and full damage cascades for the fluorapatite structure using molecular dynamics in conjunction with effective pair potentials. Fluorapatite is being considered as a host for the long term immobilisation of halide bearing nuclear wastes. As a result it is important to understand how the apatite structure withstands and recovers from radiation damage. Of particular interest were the structural changes noted in our damaged structures: phosphate polyhedra were found to form polymer chains, typical of phosphate glasses, that were interwoven with the calcium metaprisms forming the backbone of the apatite structure. The coincidence of these amorphous and crystalline features should help in our further understanding of the long term durability of this material.

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We are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper on lithium diffusion within lithium lanthanum titanate:

• E.E. Jay, M.J.D Rushton, A. Chroneos, R.W. Grimes and J.A. Kilner, “Genetics of superionic conductivity in lithium lanthanum titanates”, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, (2014). doi:10.1039/C4CP04834B

Lithium lanthanum titanate (LLTO) is a material that shows high lithium diffusivity even at room temperature, this makes it of considerable interest for battery applications. In the present paper we set out to try and understand how the arrangement of lanthanum atoms within this material leads to LLTO’s beneficial properties. This was achieved by using a genetic algorithm to search for configurations with particularly high diffusivities. These were then examined to see what could be gleaned from their structure in order to unlock the key to LLTO’s beneficial properties. The paper can be found here.

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