Mechanism and Properties of UO<sub>2</sub>–Graphene Composite Fuel Prepared by In Situ Synthesis
A nucleation method based on a composite of uranium dioxide (UO<sub>2</sub>) and graphene is presented by in situ synthesis, and the relevant mechanism and fuel properties are investigated. UO<sub>2</sub>–graphene composite fuel powders containing graphene volume (2%, 4%, 6%,...
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/12/2/230 |
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| author | Xuezhi Wu Bangyue Yin |
| author_facet | Xuezhi Wu Bangyue Yin |
| author_sort | Xuezhi Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A nucleation method based on a composite of uranium dioxide (UO<sub>2</sub>) and graphene is presented by in situ synthesis, and the relevant mechanism and fuel properties are investigated. UO<sub>2</sub>–graphene composite fuel powders containing graphene volume (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%) were prepared using a nucleation method through the reactive deposition of uranyl nitrate and aqueous ammonia on graphene by controlling the reaction parameters. The composite fuel pellets were prepared using spark plasma sintering (SPS). The results showed that the uniformity of UO<sub>2</sub>–graphene powder prepared by in situ synthesis reached up to 96.39%. An analysis on the relevant phase structure showed that only UO<sub>2</sub> and graphene existed in the sintered pellets at 1723 K, graphene and UO<sub>2</sub> were not destroyed during the reaction, and the pellet densities for the in-situ synthesis were 95.56%TD, 95.32%TD, 95.08%TD, and 94.76%TD for graphene contents of 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%, respectively. The thermal conductivities of pellets at 293 K increased by 12.27%, 20.13%, 27.47%, and 34.13%, and by 18.36%, 35.00%, 47.07%, and 58.93% at 1273 K for 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% graphene contents, respectively. The performance of graphene in the fuel was superior at high temperatures, which overcame shortcomings due to the low thermal conductivity of UO<sub>2</sub> at high temperatures. SEM results showed that the grain sizes of the pellets prepared by synthesis in situ were 10–30 μm, and there was no obvious pore at the grain boundary because the grains were closely bound. The graphene was uniformly coated by UO<sub>2</sub>, and the thermal conductivity of the pellets improved upon the formation of a bridging heat conduction network. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:15:00Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:15:00Z |
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| series | Crystals |
| spelling | doaj.art-1c8391c0abbb461e83976d50d8a665de2023-11-23T19:25:02ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522022-02-0112223010.3390/cryst12020230Mechanism and Properties of UO<sub>2</sub>–Graphene Composite Fuel Prepared by In Situ SynthesisXuezhi Wu0Bangyue Yin1China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing 102413, ChinaChina Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing 102413, ChinaA nucleation method based on a composite of uranium dioxide (UO<sub>2</sub>) and graphene is presented by in situ synthesis, and the relevant mechanism and fuel properties are investigated. UO<sub>2</sub>–graphene composite fuel powders containing graphene volume (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%) were prepared using a nucleation method through the reactive deposition of uranyl nitrate and aqueous ammonia on graphene by controlling the reaction parameters. The composite fuel pellets were prepared using spark plasma sintering (SPS). The results showed that the uniformity of UO<sub>2</sub>–graphene powder prepared by in situ synthesis reached up to 96.39%. An analysis on the relevant phase structure showed that only UO<sub>2</sub> and graphene existed in the sintered pellets at 1723 K, graphene and UO<sub>2</sub> were not destroyed during the reaction, and the pellet densities for the in-situ synthesis were 95.56%TD, 95.32%TD, 95.08%TD, and 94.76%TD for graphene contents of 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%, respectively. The thermal conductivities of pellets at 293 K increased by 12.27%, 20.13%, 27.47%, and 34.13%, and by 18.36%, 35.00%, 47.07%, and 58.93% at 1273 K for 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% graphene contents, respectively. The performance of graphene in the fuel was superior at high temperatures, which overcame shortcomings due to the low thermal conductivity of UO<sub>2</sub> at high temperatures. SEM results showed that the grain sizes of the pellets prepared by synthesis in situ were 10–30 μm, and there was no obvious pore at the grain boundary because the grains were closely bound. The graphene was uniformly coated by UO<sub>2</sub>, and the thermal conductivity of the pellets improved upon the formation of a bridging heat conduction network.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/12/2/230UO<sub>2</sub>graphenein situ synthesisspark plasma sinteringthermal conductivity |
| spellingShingle | Xuezhi Wu Bangyue Yin Mechanism and Properties of UO<sub>2</sub>–Graphene Composite Fuel Prepared by In Situ Synthesis Crystals UO<sub>2</sub> graphene in situ synthesis spark plasma sintering thermal conductivity |
| title | Mechanism and Properties of UO<sub>2</sub>–Graphene Composite Fuel Prepared by In Situ Synthesis |
| title_full | Mechanism and Properties of UO<sub>2</sub>–Graphene Composite Fuel Prepared by In Situ Synthesis |
| title_fullStr | Mechanism and Properties of UO<sub>2</sub>–Graphene Composite Fuel Prepared by In Situ Synthesis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanism and Properties of UO<sub>2</sub>–Graphene Composite Fuel Prepared by In Situ Synthesis |
| title_short | Mechanism and Properties of UO<sub>2</sub>–Graphene Composite Fuel Prepared by In Situ Synthesis |
| title_sort | mechanism and properties of uo sub 2 sub graphene composite fuel prepared by in situ synthesis |
| topic | UO<sub>2</sub> graphene in situ synthesis spark plasma sintering thermal conductivity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/12/2/230 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xuezhiwu mechanismandpropertiesofuosub2subgraphenecompositefuelpreparedbyinsitusynthesis AT bangyueyin mechanismandpropertiesofuosub2subgraphenecompositefuelpreparedbyinsitusynthesis |