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Li M, Hu J, Gong H, Ren Q, Liao Y, Xiao H, Qiu Q, Feng S, Zu X. First-principles study of point defects in U 3Si 2: effects on the mechanical and electronic properties. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:4287-4297. [PMID: 35107460 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp04745k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, U3Si2 has been proposed as an alternative nuclear fuel material to uranium dioxide (UO2) because of its intrinsically high uranium density and thermal conductivity. However, the operation environment in the nuclear reactor is complex and extreme, such as in-pile neutron irradiation, and thus it is necessary to explore the radiation response behavior of U3Si2 and the physical properties of its damaged states. In the present study, first-principles calculations based on density functional theory were carried out to investigate the mechanical and electronic properties of defective U3Si2. Our results showed that the defect stability in U3Si2, except its interstitial defects, is dependent on its chemical environment. When vacancy, antisite or interstitial defects are introduced into U3Si2, its elastic modulus are decreased and its ductility is enhanced. Although the presence of defects in U3Si2 does not change its metallic nature and the electron distribution in its Fermi level, their effect on the partial chemical bonding interaction is significant. This study suggests that under a radiation environment, the created defects in U3Si2 remarkably affect its mechanical and electronic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menglu Li
- School of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
| | - Jutao Hu
- School of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
| | - Hengfeng Gong
- Department of ATF R & D, China Nuclear Power Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, 518000, China. .,High-safety ATF Engineering Laboratory of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518116, China
| | - Qisen Ren
- Department of ATF R & D, China Nuclear Power Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, 518000, China.
| | - Yehong Liao
- Department of ATF R & D, China Nuclear Power Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, 518000, China.
| | - Haiyan Xiao
- School of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
| | - Qihang Qiu
- School of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
| | - Shan Feng
- School of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
| | - Xiaotao Zu
- School of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
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2
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Christian MS, Johnson ER, Besmann TM. Interplay between London Dispersion, Hubbard U, and Metastable States for Uranium Compounds. J Phys Chem A 2021; 125:2791-2799. [PMID: 33764761 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.0c10533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
High-throughput computational studies of lanthanide and actinide chemistry with density-functional theory are complicated by the need for Hubbard U corrections, which ensure localization of the f-electrons, but can lead to metastable states. This work presents a systematic investigation of the effects of both Hubbard U value and metastable states on the predicted structural and thermodynamic properties of four uranium compounds central to the field of nuclear fuels: UC, UN, UO2, and UCl3. We also assess the impact of the exchange-hole dipole moment (XDM) dispersion correction on the computed properties. Overall, the choice of Hubbard U value and inclusion of a dispersion correction cause larger variations in the computed geometric properties than result from metastable states. The weak dependence of structure optimization on metastable states should simplify future high-throughput calculations on actinides. Conversely, addition of the dispersion correction is found to offset the repulsion introduced by the Hubbard U term and provides greatly improved agreement with experiment for both cell volumes and heats of formation. The XDM dispersion correction is largely invariant to the chosen U value, making it a robust dispersion correction for actinide systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Christian
- Nuclear Engineering Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States.,Center for Hierarchical Waste Form Materials (CHWM), University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Erin R Johnson
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, 6274 Coburg Road, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Theodore M Besmann
- Nuclear Engineering Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States.,Center for Hierarchical Waste Form Materials (CHWM), University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
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3
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Tucker WC, Chowdhury P, Abbott LJ, Haskins JB. Toward an In-Depth Material Model for Cermet Nuclear Thermal Rocket Fuel Elements. NUCL TECHNOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00295450.2020.1850162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- William C. Tucker
- AMA, Inc., Thermal Protection Materials Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California 94035
| | - Piyas Chowdhury
- AMA, Inc., Thermal Protection Materials Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California 94035
| | - Lauren J. Abbott
- Thermal Protection Materials Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California 94035
| | - Justin B. Haskins
- Thermal Protection Materials Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California 94035
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4
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Wormald J, Hawari A, Zerkle M. Impact of magnetic structure and thermal effects on vibrational excitations and neutron scattering in uranium mononitride. ANN NUCL ENERGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2020.107447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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5
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Zhang L, Sun B, Zhang Q, Liu H, Liu K, Song H. First-Principles Study of the Hydrogen Resistance Mechanism of PuO 2. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:7211-7218. [PMID: 32280861 PMCID: PMC7143429 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.9b03790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The in-depth investigation of hydrogen behaviors in Pu-oxide overlayers (mainly PuO2 and α-Pu2O3) is critical for modeling the complex induction period of Pu hydriding. Within density functional theory (DFT) + U + D3 schemes, our systematic first-principles calculations and ab initio thermodynamic evaluations reveal that the hydrogen incorporation, dissolution behaviors, and diffusion mechanism in PuO2 are quite different from those in α-Pu2O3, among which the highly endothermic incorporation and dissolution of hydrogen are the primary hydrogen resistance mechanism of PuO2. Since its difficult recombination, atomic H is the preferred existence state in PuO2, but H will recombine spontaneously in α-Pu2O3. In PuO2, H diffusion is always clinging to O anions, whereas in α-Pu2O3, H2 prefers to migrate along O vacancies with higher barriers. H dissolution in intact PuO2 is very difficult, which can only be driven by extremely high pressure PH2 and temperature. Based on a series of theoretical studies, we conclude that the main interactions between hydrogen and Pu-oxide overlayers are not involved with chemical reactions, and intact PuO2 can effectively inhibit hydrogen permeation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Zhang
- Institute
of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, No. 2 of Fenghao East Road, Beijing 100094, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bo Sun
- Institute
of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, No. 2 of Fenghao East Road, Beijing 100094, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qili Zhang
- Institute
of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, No. 2 of Fenghao East Road, Beijing 100094, People’s Republic of China
| | - Haifeng Liu
- Institute
of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, No. 2 of Fenghao East Road, Beijing 100094, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kezhao Liu
- Science
and Technology on Surface Physics and Chemistry Laboratory, Mianyang 621908, People’s Republic of China
| | - Haifeng Song
- Institute
of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, No. 2 of Fenghao East Road, Beijing 100094, People’s Republic of China
- CAEP
Software Center for High Performance Numerical Simulation, No. 6 of Huayuan Road, Beijing 100088, People’s Republic of China
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6
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Zhang Y, Zhang N, Ge C. First-Principles Studies of Adsorptive Remediation of Water and Air Pollutants Using Two-Dimensional MXene Materials. MATERIALS 2018; 11:ma11112281. [PMID: 30441865 PMCID: PMC6267496 DOI: 10.3390/ma11112281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 11/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Water and air pollution is a critical issue across the whole world. Two-dimensional transition metal carbide/nitride (MXene) materials, due to the characteristics of large specific surface area, hydrophilic nature and abundant highly active surficial sites, are able to adsorb a variety of environmental pollutants, and thus can be used for environmental remediation. First-principles method is a powerful tool to investigate and predict the properties of low-dimensional materials, which can save a large amount of experimental costs and accelerate the research progress. In this review, we summarize the recent research progresses of the MXene materials in the adsorptive remediation of environmental pollutants in polluted water and air using first-principles simulations, and try to predict the research direction of MXenes in the adsorptive environmental applications from first-principles view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujuan Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Ningning Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Changchun Ge
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
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7
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Bo T, Lan JH, Zhang YJ, Zhao YL, He CH, Chai ZF, Shi WQ. Adsorption and dissociation of H2O on the (001) surface of uranium mononitride: energetics and mechanism from first-principles investigation. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2016; 18:13255-66. [PMID: 27118421 DOI: 10.1039/c6cp01175f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The interfacial interaction of uranium mononitride (UN) with water from the environment unavoidably leads to corrosion of nuclear fuels, which affects a lot of processes in the nuclear fuel cycle. In this work, the microscopic adsorption behaviors of water on the UN(001) surface as well as water dissociation and accompanying H2 formation mechanisms have been investigated on the basis of DFT+U calculations and ab initio atomistic thermodynamics. For adsorption of one H2O monomer, the predicted adsorption energies are -0.88, -2.07, and -2.07 eV for the most stable molecular, partially dissociative, and completely dissociative adsorption, respectively. According to our calculations, a water molecule dissociates into OH and H species via three pathways with small energy barriers of 0.78, 0.72, and 0.85 eV, respectively. With the aid of the neighboring H atom, H2 formation through the reaction of H* + OH* can easily occur via two pathways with energy barriers of 0.61 and 0.36 eV, respectively. The molecular adsorption of water shows a slight coverage dependence on the surface while this dependence becomes obvious for partially dissociative adsorption as the water coverage increases from 1/4 to 1 ML. In addition, based on the "ab initio atomistic thermodynamic" simulations, increasing H2O partial pressure will enhance the stability of the adsorbed system and water coverage, while increasing temperature will decrease the H2O coverage. We found that the UN(001) surface reacts easily with H2O at room temperature, leading to dissolution and corrosion of the UN fuel materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Bo
- Laboratory of Nuclear Energy Chemistry and Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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9
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Faulques E, Kalashnyk N, Massuyeau F, Perry DL. Spectroscopic markers for uranium(vi) phosphates: a vibronic study. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra13558c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Uranyl phosphate minerals are studied by optical and vibrational spectroscopy which provide robust markers to discriminate among environmentally hazardous uranium phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Faulques
- Institut des Matériaux Jean Rouxel
- Université de Nantes
- UMR CNRS 6502
- F-44322 Nantes
- France
| | - N. Kalashnyk
- Institut Matériaux Microélectronique Nanosciences de Provence
- Université d' Aix-Marseille
- UMR CNRS 7334
- F-13397 Marseille Cedex 20
- France
| | - F. Massuyeau
- Institut des Matériaux Jean Rouxel
- Université de Nantes
- UMR CNRS 6502
- F-44322 Nantes
- France
| | - D. L. Perry
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- University of California
- Berkeley
- USA
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10
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Ivanova B, Spiteller M. Adsorption of uranium composites onto saltrock oxides - experimental and theoretical study. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2014; 135:75-83. [PMID: 24794043 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2013] [Revised: 03/30/2014] [Accepted: 03/30/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The study encompassed experimental mass spectrometric and theoretical quantum chemical studies on adsorption of uranium species in different oxidation states of the metal ion, and oxides of UxOy(n+) type, where x = 1 or 3, y = 2 or 8, and n = 0, 1 or 2 onto nanosize-particles of saltrock oxides MO (M = Mg(II), Ca(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Sr(II) or Ba(II)), M2Oy (M = Au(III) or Ag(I), y = 3 or 1) silicates 3Al2O3.2SiO2, natural kaolinite (Al2O2·2SiO2·2H2O), illite (K0.78Ca0.02Na0.02(Mg0.34Al1.69Fe(III)0.02)[Si3.35Al0.65]O10(OH)2·nH2O), CaSiO3, 3MgO·4SiO2,H2O, and M(1)M(2)(SiO4)X2 (M(1) = M(2) = Al or M(1) = K, M(2) = Al, X = F or Cl), respectively. The UV-MALDI-Orbitrap mass spectrometry was utilized in solid-state and semi-liquid colloidal state, involving the laser ablation at λex = 337.2 nm. The theoretical modeling and experimental design was based on chemical-, physico-chemical, physical and biological processes involving uranium species under environmental conditions. Therefore, the results reported are crucial for quality control and monitoring programs for assessment of radionuclide migration. They impact significantly the methodology for evaluation of human health risk from radioactive contamination. The study has importance for understanding the coordination and red-ox chemistry of uranium compounds as well. Due to the double nature of uranium between rare element and superconductivity like materials as well as variety of oxidation states ∈ (+1)-(+6), the there remain challenging areas for theoretical and experimental research, which are of significant importance for management of nuclear fuel cycles and waste storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bojidarka Ivanova
- Lehrstuhl für Analytische Chemie, Institut für Umweltforschung, Fakultät für Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Universität Dortmund, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 6, 44221 Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
| | - Michael Spiteller
- Lehrstuhl für Analytische Chemie, Institut für Umweltforschung, Fakultät für Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Universität Dortmund, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 6, 44221 Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
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11
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Wang X, Cheng X, Zhang Y, Li R, Xing W, Zhang P, Chen XQ. First-principles study of ground-state properties of U2Mo. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2014; 16:26974-82. [DOI: 10.1039/c4cp03841j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
By means of first-principles calculations, we have systematically investigated the structural, elastic, vibrational, thermal and electronic properties of the ground-state phase for the intermetallic compound U2Mo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Science and Technology on Surface Physics and Chemistry Laboratory
- Mianyang, China
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science
- Institute of Metal Research
- Shenyang, China
| | - Xiyue Cheng
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science
- Institute of Metal Research
- Shenyang, China
| | - Yuting Zhang
- Science and Technology on Surface Physics and Chemistry Laboratory
- Mianyang, China
| | - Ronghan Li
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science
- Institute of Metal Research
- Shenyang, China
| | - Weiwei Xing
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science
- Institute of Metal Research
- Shenyang, China
| | - Pengcheng Zhang
- Science and Technology on Surface Physics and Chemistry Laboratory
- Mianyang, China
| | - Xing-Qiu Chen
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science
- Institute of Metal Research
- Shenyang, China
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12
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Kuklja MM, Kotomin EA, Merkle R, Mastrikov YA, Maier J. Combined theoretical and experimental analysis of processes determining cathode performance in solid oxide fuel cells. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2013; 15:5443-71. [PMID: 23478490 DOI: 10.1039/c3cp44363a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 213] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are under intensive investigation since the 1980's as these devices open the way for ecologically clean direct conversion of the chemical energy into electricity, avoiding the efficiency limitation by Carnot's cycle for thermochemical conversion. However, the practical development of SOFC faces a number of unresolved fundamental problems, in particular concerning the kinetics of the electrode reactions, especially oxygen reduction reaction. We review recent experimental and theoretical achievements in the current understanding of the cathode performance by exploring and comparing mostly three materials: (La,Sr)MnO3 (LSM), (La,Sr)(Co,Fe)O3 (LSCF) and (Ba,Sr)(Co,Fe)O3 (BSCF). Special attention is paid to a critical evaluation of advantages and disadvantages of BSCF, which shows the best cathode kinetics known so far for oxides. We demonstrate that it is the combined experimental and theoretical analysis of all major elementary steps of the oxygen reduction reaction which allows us to predict the rate determining steps for a given material under specific operational conditions and thus control and improve SOFC performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Kuklja
- Materials Science and Engineering Department, University of Maryland, College Park, USA.
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13
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Wen XD, Martin RL, Henderson TM, Scuseria GE. Density Functional Theory Studies of the Electronic Structure of Solid State Actinide Oxides. Chem Rev 2012; 113:1063-96. [DOI: 10.1021/cr300374y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Dong Wen
- Theoretical
Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico
87545, United States
| | - Richard L. Martin
- Theoretical
Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico
87545, United States
| | - Thomas M. Henderson
- Department
of Chemistry and
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77251, United States
| | - Gustavo E. Scuseria
- Department
of Chemistry and
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77251, United States
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14
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Aczel AA, Granroth GE, Macdougall GJ, Buyers WJL, Abernathy DL, Samolyuk GD, Stocks GM, Nagler SE. Quantum oscillations of nitrogen atoms in uranium nitride. Nat Commun 2012; 3:1124. [PMID: 23047682 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2012] [Accepted: 09/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The vibrational excitations of crystalline solids corresponding to acoustic or optic one-phonon modes appear as sharp features in measurements such as neutron spectroscopy. In contrast, many-phonon excitations generally produce a complicated, weak and featureless response. Here we present time-of-flight neutron scattering measurements for the binary solid uranium nitride, showing well-defined, equally spaced, high-energy vibrational modes in addition to the usual phonons. The spectrum is that of a single atom, isotropic quantum harmonic oscillator and characterizes independent motions of light nitrogen atoms, each found in an octahedral cage of heavy uranium atoms. This is an unexpected and beautiful experimental realization of one of the fundamental, exactly solvable problems in quantum mechanics. There are also practical implications, as the oscillator modes must be accounted for in the design of generation IV nuclear reactors that plan to use uranium nitride as a fuel.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Aczel
- Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Neutron Sciences Directorate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA.
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15
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Li P, Deng S, Liu G, Hou K. Comprehensive investigations on the feasibility of nitrogen as a p-type dopant in ZnO. Chem Phys Lett 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2012.06.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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