NSTD Research Projects: TRP
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TRP -> Campaign/Number -> TRP 34
TRP 34. Solution-based Synthesis of Nitride Fuels
September 2006 - Current
Research Objectives & Methods
The objective of this project is to develop solution phase synthetic routes for actinide nitrides for use in nuclear fuels.
To achieve the solution synthesis of actinide nitrides, the fundamental chemical coordination and speciation involved in existing reactions will be examined. The non-aqueous synthetic route, based on amido chemistry, potentially provides property control over the nitride product. The resulting nitride product should be free of the impurities inherent in the carbothermic reduction technique.
The experiments are being performed by a joint research team from UNLV, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), with actinide experiments performed at each laboratory. This project maintains special emphasis on student participation in the project research with all team members collaborating in the educational efforts. The young researchers from UNLV have the opportunity to perform research at ANL and LANL, helping train the next generation of radiochemists and actinide scientists with experience in DOE laboratories. The synthesis of nitride fuels through this method is complementary to the ongoing carbothermic reduction syntheses being performed within the UNLV Radiochemistry program. The ANL and LANL participants are experts in synthetic actinide chemistry, including non-aqueous chemistry and materials science.
Researchers
- Ken Czerwinski, Chemistry
- Cynthia Gong, Harry Reid Center
- Longzhou Ma, Harry Reid Center
- Frederic Poineau, Harry Reid Center
Collaborators
- Gordon Jarvinen, Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Doris Ford, Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Al Sattelberger, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Students
- Ed Mausolf, PhD, Radiochemistry
- Julie Gostic, PhD, Radiochemistry
- Amber Wright, MS, Chemistry
- Julie du Bouchaud du Mazabrun, Visiting MS Student, Ecole Nationale Superieure de Chimie de Paris
- Solenne Michaud, Visiting Graduate Student, Ecole Nationale Superieure de Chimie de Paris