(POS-01) Enhancing Fuel Integrity: Tellurium doping in Uranium Oxide For Reducing Failure Risks.

Uranium dioxide (UO₂) is the most widely used nuclear fuel material due to its thermal stability and fission efficiency. However, during operation, UO₂ suffers structural degradation, fission gas release, and fuel swelling, which compromise performance and safety. Fission products such as cesium, iodine, xenon, and krypton diffuse through the UO₂ matrix and collect at grain boundaries, causing cracking, gas bubble formation, and reduced thermal conductivity. Doping strategies are a promising approach to mitigate these issues by enhancing UO₂’s mechanical properties and stability.
Tellurium (Te) has been identified as a potentially effective dopant due to its ability to chemically interact with specific fission products, potentially trapping volatile elements and reducing gas migration. Initial studies suggest that Te could improve fission product retention and provide structural stability, making it a strong candidate for enhancing UO₂ nuclear fuel. However, little research has systematically explored Te’s effects, optimal concentrations, and compatibility with UO₂ in reactor conditions.
This project aims to address this gap through a thorough research approach involving experimental and theoretical methods. It offers a novel approach to enhancing the stability and performance of uranium dioxide (UO₂) fuel by doping with tellurium (Te). By addressing these issues, this research could potentially advance the science of nuclear fuel design, contributing significant insights.
This research also introduces an innovative perspective on nuclear materials science by positioning Te as both a stabilizing dopant and a functional material within UO₂. The insights gained from the Te-UO₂ system could establish new paradigms in nuclear fuel doping strategies, informing future studies on dopant selection and behavior in fission environments. Furthermore, the project’s findings could support broader material science disciplines by providing a deeper understanding of how dopants influence structural integrity, gas retention, and phase stability in high-temperature materials (materials in extreme environments).