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Title: Dislocation Loops in Proton Irradiated Uranium-Nitrogen-Oxygen System

Journal Article · · Journal of Nuclear Materials
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [6]; ORCiD logo [3];  [3]
  1. Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States); University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
  2. Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (United States)
  3. Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
  4. Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research, Eindhoven (Netherlands)
  5. Boise State University, ID (United States)
  6. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)

Here in this study, we investigated the dislocation loop types formed in the proton-irradiated uranium-nitrogen-oxygen (U-N-O) system, which involves uranium mononitride (UN), uranium sesquinitride (a-U2N3), and uranium dioxide (UO2) phases. The dislocation loop formation is examined using specimens irradiated at 400°C and 710°C. Based on the detailed transmission-based electron microscopy characterization with i) the morphology-based on-zone and ii) the invisibility-criterion based two-beam condition imaging techniques, only a single type of dislocation loop in each phase is found: a/2?110?, a/2?111?, or a/3?111? dislocation loops in UN, a-U2N3, and UO2 phases, respectively. Molecular statics calculations for the formation energy of perfect and faulted dislocation loops in UN phases indicate a critical loop size of ~ 6 nm, above which perfect loops are energetically favorable. This could explain the absence of faulted loops in the experimental observation of the irradiated UN phase at two temperatures. This work will enhance the understanding of irradiation induced microstructural evolution for uranium nitrides as advanced nuclear fuels for the next-generation nuclear reactors.

Research Organization:
Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC07-05ID14517
OSTI ID:
1924069
Report Number(s):
INL/JOU-21-62921
Journal Information:
Journal of Nuclear Materials, Journal Name: Journal of Nuclear Materials Journal Issue: - Vol. 557; ISSN 0022-3115
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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