About the Project
Next Generation Nuclear is a partnership between the Universities of Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield. Its mission is to develop the next generation of research leaders to support the UK’s present and future strategic nuclear programmes- cleaning up the nuclear legacy, building new nuclear power stations, and defence and security. It will work with all the UK’s major industrial and regulatory stakeholders, including Amec, Areva, AWE, EDF, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, the National Nuclear Laboratory, Rolls-Royce, and Sellafield Ltd, and with leading overseas institutions.
Nuclear fission by its very nature induces change, i.e. transmutation of elements, how a structure accommodates this change is vital to the long-term stability of nuclear fuel. Current nuclear fuel is based on UO2, adopting the cubic fluorite structure, many fission products are soluble within this structure, and can give rise to new phases being formed. These new phases will impact fuel performance, through modification of thermophysical properties, thus potentially reducing the ability of the fuel to be used within the core longer term. The project examines the impact arising from the formation of phases which form as precipitates in the fuel, with a structure formed from ‘non-equilibrium’ synthesis.
The formation of fission products within fuel, dramatically impacts both the thermophysical and structural response coupling in many cases with the induced radiation damage. For example, not only will fuel experience change in microstructure through formation of gas bubbles, but such change induces a reduction in thermal conductivity, which leads to heat being retained within the fuel. Fission product formation within the fuel can either be soluble, or insoluble, with each having differing impact on behaviour. For many fission products there is a miscibility gap in solubility. For example, in the systems U-Ln-O, the miscibility gap gives rise to the formation of new phases, forming coherent domains within the broader matrix. Domain behaviour, and formation is not fully understood and is ripe for further examination.
We welcome applications from graduates who have, or expect to obtain, a good degree (first class or upper second).
Funding Notes
To be eligible for a studentship, you must either be a U.K. citizen or a European Union national who has been resident in the U.K. for at least 3 years prior to starting the course. We welcome applications from good students of all nationalities, but we are only able to offer financial support to students that fulfil the above criteria.
The NGN Centre welcomes applications from international students however; this particular programme is funded by the Research Council which means we have limited funding opportunities for overseas students
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