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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.15420 |
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| _version_ | 1866910054789152768 |
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| author | Wang, Di McGilvery, Catriona M Douglas, James O Wang, Siyang |
| author_facet | Wang, Di McGilvery, Catriona M Douglas, James O Wang, Siyang |
| contents | Hafnium hydride is a promising material for next-generation nuclear reactors, particularly as control rods for fast fission and shielding in fusion systems. The material's intrinsic brittleness encourages its use in the form of hydride-metal composites, where the functional and mechanical performance is strongly influenced by the multiscale structure of hydride-matrix interfaces. In this study, we employ a suite of microscopy techniques, including scanning electron microscopy with electron backscatter diffraction, transmission electron microscopy with electron energy-loss spectroscopy, and atom probe tomography, to investigate the deuteride-matrix interfaces in a deuterium-charged Hf alloy. We characterise their structure and chemistry, extracting key information including the deuteride-matrix crystallographic orientation relationship, microstructural features, misfit-induced dislocation distributions, electron energy-loss characteristics, and the segregation of oxygen during deuteride growth. These findings help clarify the mechanisms of interface evolution and may contribute to improved understanding of hydride-metal systems, with potential relevance for their processing, performance, and design in nuclear applications. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_15420 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Microstructural characteristics, atomic-scale features, and growth mechanisms of deuterides (hydrides) in hafnium Wang, Di McGilvery, Catriona M Douglas, James O Wang, Siyang Materials Science Hafnium hydride is a promising material for next-generation nuclear reactors, particularly as control rods for fast fission and shielding in fusion systems. The material's intrinsic brittleness encourages its use in the form of hydride-metal composites, where the functional and mechanical performance is strongly influenced by the multiscale structure of hydride-matrix interfaces. In this study, we employ a suite of microscopy techniques, including scanning electron microscopy with electron backscatter diffraction, transmission electron microscopy with electron energy-loss spectroscopy, and atom probe tomography, to investigate the deuteride-matrix interfaces in a deuterium-charged Hf alloy. We characterise their structure and chemistry, extracting key information including the deuteride-matrix crystallographic orientation relationship, microstructural features, misfit-induced dislocation distributions, electron energy-loss characteristics, and the segregation of oxygen during deuteride growth. These findings help clarify the mechanisms of interface evolution and may contribute to improved understanding of hydride-metal systems, with potential relevance for their processing, performance, and design in nuclear applications. |
| title | Microstructural characteristics, atomic-scale features, and growth mechanisms of deuterides (hydrides) in hafnium |
| topic | Materials Science |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.15420 |