Research Highlight | Chemical and Fuel Cycle Technologies
Atomic layer deposition-coated fuel pellets for light-water reactors
Protective layers can coat individual particles that make up a nuclear fuel pellet to guard against oxidation
To better preserve the fuel pellets as they are used in light-water reactors, Argonne researchers Abdellatif Yacout and Sumit Bhattacharya have developed an atomic layer deposition-based method to infiltrate the “green compact” form of the pellets, which consist of fissionable material particles with gaps in between, and disperse coating between the individual particles.
The method overcomes limitations of other deposition methods, allowing better protection against steam oxidation in high-density nuclear fuels.
Read patent to learn more.