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Cr and lanthanides form grey-phase compounds in spent fuel models

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Research area:chemistry-materials

What the study found

The study found that chromium (Cr) and praseodymium or gadolinium (Pr/Gd) can form perovskite-type compounds in chromium-doped uranium dioxide model materials. These compounds are identified as classical "grey phases" of spent fuel.

Why the authors say this matters

The authors conclude that the chemistry of dopants used to improve nuclear fuel performance should be considered for how those dopants may behave during irradiation and later appear in spent fuel. The study suggests this is relevant to understanding spent fuel behavior.

What the researchers tested

The researchers used high energy resolution fluorescence detected X-ray absorption near edge structure (HERFD-XANES), a technique for examining chemical state, to study Cr and Pr/Gd speciation in two 200 ppm Cr-doped uranium dioxide compounds: (U4.4+0.7Pr3+0.3)O2-x and (U4.4+0.7Gd3+0.3)O2-x. They also tested the radiation tolerance of PrCrO3 and GdCrO3 using swift heavy ion irradiation, then examined them with electron microscopy and grazing incidence synchrotron diffraction.

What worked and what didn't

HERFD-XANES analysis indicated that Cr3+ and Pr3+ or Gd3+ formed perovskite-type PrCrO3 or GdCrO3 phases, consistent with grey phases. After irradiation, electron microscopy and grazing incidence synchrotron diffraction indicated significant amorphization, but the crystal structure was still retained.

What to keep in mind

The abstract does not describe broader limitations beyond the specific model materials and compounds studied. The findings are reported for these chromium-doped uranium dioxide systems and the related PrCrO3 and GdCrO3 irradiation tests.

Key points

  • Cr and Pr/Gd were found to form perovskite-type grey-phase compounds in Cr-doped uranium dioxide model materials.
  • The compounds studied were 200 ppm Cr-doped (U4.4+0.7Pr3+0.3)O2-x and 200 ppm Cr-doped (U4.4+0.7Gd3+0.3)O2-x.
  • Swift heavy ion irradiation caused significant amorphization in PrCrO3 and GdCrO3.
  • Despite amorphization, electron microscopy and synchrotron diffraction indicated the crystal structure was retained.
  • The authors say dopant chemistry should be considered when thinking about spent fuel behavior after irradiation.

Disclosure

Research title:
Cr and lanthanides form grey-phase compounds in spent fuel models
Authors:
Daniil Shirokiy, Andrey Bukaemskiy, Maximilian Henkes, Elena F. Bazarkina, Christoph Hennig, Andrew Ryan, Martina Klinkenberg, Murat Güngör, Mara McCleary, Julien Marquardt, Andrew N. Fitch, Kristina O. Kvashnina, Dirk Bosbach, Gabriel L. Murphy
Institutions:
Délégation Alpes, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Goethe University Frankfurt, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Princeton University
Publication date:
2026-02-16
DOI:
10.1038/s41529-026-00752-5
OpenAlex record:
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AI provenance: This post was generated by gpt-5.4-mini (OpenAI). The original authors did not write or review this post.

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