Multi-scale hierarchical high-temperature tungsten-low Z nanocomposites as adaptive fusion plasma-facing components
- Energy Driven Technologies LLC, Champaign, IL (United States)
The work performed for this Phase I STTR award focused on evaluating the fabrication and performance of materials for use in current research level and future energy producing nuclear fusion reactors. Advances in nuclear fusion have been hampered by the lack of novel development in advanced fusion materials that must withstand extreme conditions (temperature and radiation) of power exhaust. Limited attention has been given not only to structural material properties of the wall materials but especially addressing the surface-dominating properties (e.g. erosion, ion mixing, hydrogen and helium-induced bubbles and swelling at the surface, surface diffusion, surface chemistry, morphology, and nanoscale patterning) that ultimately dictate hydrogen particle recycling emitted back to the edge plasma consequently cooling the fusion plasma. To address this, the project developed a fabrication technique to embed small-grain tungsten with low-z material nanoparticles that, when exposed to an extreme, damaging environment, will self-heal and protect both the tungsten from the plasma, and the plasma from tungsten particle emission. Results have shown that the developed surfaces readily support nanoparticle synthesis, which have been demonstrated to melt under harsh conditions and protect the tungsten surface. Future work will move to testing materials in current research reactors. The successful development and commercialization of this technology would be a significant enabler, helping to bring fusion energy to the market.
- Research Organization:
- Energy Driven Technologies LLC, Champaign, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Federal Energy Management Program Office; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0017852
- OSTI ID:
- 1429273
- Type / Phase:
- STTR (Phase I)
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-Editekk-17852
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Microengineered Textured Armor for Plasma-Facing Components
Development of Novel Mesoporous Substrates for a Stable Liquid-Metal Plasma-Material Interface Under Ultra Long-Pulse Plasmas