UO2 microstructural evolutions induced by Ni, Mo, and W dopants for intentional forensics

Lopes, Denise Adorno; Ulrich, Tash; Kercher, Andrew; Bronikowski, Michael; Samperton, Kyle; Scott, Spencer; Wellons, Matthew; Green, Gage; Spano, Tyler; Harp, Jason; Nelson, Andrew; Shields, Ashley

doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.155885

UO₂ microstructural evolutions induced by Ni, Mo, and W dopants for intentional forensics

Journal Article · Fri May 09 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Journal of Nuclear Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.155885· OSTI ID:3002825

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), Aiken, SC (United States)

The concept of tagging nuclear fuel with a chemical barcode to enable forensics analysis across the nuclear fuel cycle is an area of active investigation, particularly to ensure fabrication viability without disrupting current fuel performance. Here, this study explored the feasibility of using Ni, Mo, and W isotopic double-spikes as dopants in UO₂ fuel from the perspective of fuel fabrication. Doped UO₂ pellets were produced using conventional fuel fabrication processes, including powder mixing, sieving, pressing, and sintering in a reductive atmosphere. Two composition levels, 100 and 1000 ppm, were evaluated for each dopant element with isotopic double-spike configurations. For the Ni system, additional dopant concentrations of 250 and 500 ppm were produced with nonperturbed isotopic ratios. The results demonstrated that successful incorporation of Ni, Mo, and W double-spikes into UO₂ pellets occurred with minimal shift in final density or dopant loss during pellet fabrication. Isotopic analysis confirmed the presence of the double-spike signature even when diluted with natural isotopic material in ratio of 1:5 in the fabrication process. Microstructural examinations revealed different impacts on grain size compared with undoped UO₂. This study showed that Ni incorporation up to ∼500 ppm promoted moderate grain growth, whereas the Mo and W systems caused grain size reduction at all concentrations. Changes in the UO₂ lattice parameter as a function of composition were detected exclusively for Ni up to 500 ppm, indicating that the Ni solid solution was the main factor for the observed grain growth. Insoluble (Mo and W) or supersaturated (Ni > 500 ppm) conditions produced grain size reduction. The Ni-doped pellets in the solution range resulted in a final microstructure within fuel specifications, demonstrating its potential benefits of employing complex dopant systems for potential nuclear forensic applications.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 3002825

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2998704

Journal Information:: Journal of Nuclear Materials, Journal Name: Journal of Nuclear Materials Vol. 614; ISSN 0022-3115

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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