Development of a 2D kinetic model for the high-temperature oxidation of chromia-forming alloys.
For many industrial applications, the high temperature oxidation phenomena of components need to be assessed in order to optimise the design of the component. This is the case, for example, for aircraft engine turbines in the aerospace industry (ambient temperatures of 1000°C), heat exchanger tubes in power plants (temperatures of 300 to 600°C), vitrification pots for long-lived radioactive waste (temperatures in excess of 1000°C), etc. All these applications use Fe-Ni-Cr alloys, the oxidation of which leads to the formation of a layer of chromium oxide, Cr2O3. The development of reliable models and simulation tools for the oxidation of Fe-Ni-Cr alloys at high temperatures (from 350°C) is therefore a major challenge for limiting the costs associated with high-temperature applications.
The post-doc will be divided into two parts: the first will involve using a simulation tool created at the CEA (EKINOX-FeNiCr) and the second will be based on the transition from the 1D model to the 2D model in order to take into account the finite size of components or geometric singularities.
The generality of this subject, which can be applied to many industrial cases, and the detailed understanding of oxidation phenomena will enable the student to move into both academic and industrial research at the end of the post-doctorate.
Mitigation of Alkali Silica Reaction in concrete used for radwaste stabilization and solidification
Electricity production from nuclear power plants generates radioactive wastes, the management of which represents a major industrial and environmental concern. Thus, low- or intermediate - level radioactive aqueous waste streams may be concentrated by evaporation, and immobilized with a Portland cement, before being sent to disposal. Nevertheless, interactions may occur between some components of the waste and the cement phases or aggregates, and decrease the stability of the final waste forms. Thereby, the formation of a gel-like product has been recently observed on the surface of some cemented drums of evaporator concentrates which were produced in the 80’s in Belgium. This product results from a reaction between silica from the aggregates and the very alkaline pore solution of the concrete. However, its composition and rheological properties differ from those reported for alkali-silica gels in civil engineering. Extensive work has been performed to better understand the processes involved in the gel formation within the cement-waste forms and characterize its properties. Based on these results, the post-doctoral project will be focussed on the mitigation of alkali silica reaction in cement-waste forms. Two approaches will be more particularly investigated by decreasing the water saturation ratio of concrete and/or the pH of its pore solution using supercritical carbonation.
This project is intended for a post-doctoral fellow wishing to develop skills in materials science, with an interest in advancing the field of cement chemistry and improving the conditioning of radioactive waste. It will be performed in collaboration with ONDRAF-NIRAS, the Agency in charge of radioactive waste management in Belgium, and will build upon the expertise of two laboratories at CEA Marcoule: the Cements and Bitumen for Waste Conditioning Laboratory for materials elaboration and characterization, and the Supercritical and Decontamination Laboratory.
Rhelogical properties of molten crystallized glass
Formulation of nuclear waste conditioning glass results from a compromise between waste loading, glass technological feasibility and its long-term behavior. Up to now borosilicate glasses formulated at CEA and elaborated at La Hague plant by Orano to condition nuclear waste are homogeneous when molten. That means that today glass formulation is determined such as solubility limits of each constituting elements of waste aren’t exceeded in order to avoid phase separation (implying typically Mo, S, P) and/or crystallization (implying typically Fe, Ni, Cr, Zn, Al, Ce, Cs, Ti…) leading to a two-phase molten glass (liquid-liquid or liquid-solid).Today CEA would like to explore the impact of solid particles in suspension in the molten glass and in the final glass canister on respectively the glass technological feasibility and its long-term behaviour.
The proposed study focuses on the molten glass technological feasibility. The presence of solid heterogeneities in the melt is known to lead to a modification of some of its physical properties – notably its rheology, as well as thermal and electrical conductivities, and can generate settling phenomena. Yet these properties are in the heart of vitrification process control and modelling. This study will then investigate the impact of crystals in the molten glass on vitrification process control and modelling.
Modeling of the spent fuel alteration mechanisms in a water-saturated environment with temperature effect
Modeling the alteration of spent nuclear fuel in the eventuality of an underwater interim storage in pools or a deep geologic disposal is essential for long-term prediction. In the event of a failed spent fuel assembly, corrosion processes can lead to a deterioration of the failed rod and to a radionuclide release into water. A geochemical model coupling chemistry to transport (reactive transport) was the subject of first developments in connection with deep geological disposal conditions using the CHESS-HYTEC code developed by the Ecole des Mines de Paris. This model makes it possible to take into account the main alteration mechanisms and associated kinetics while relying on robust thermodynamic data. It remains important to pursue these developments by studying the effect of temperature between 20 and 70 °C. Adapting this model to other alteration conditions like an underwater of spent fuel in dedicated pools for several decades is also a short-term objective.
Advanced tandem time of flight mass spectrometry for microelectronic applications
The CEA LETI seeks to recruit a post-doctoral researcher to work on the development of advanced time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry applications (TOF-SIMS). The candidate will work on a new TOF-SIMS instrument equipped with tandem MS spectrometry, in-situ FIB and Argon cluster sputtering. The research project will be focused around the following topics
• Developing methods to correlate TOF-SIMS with AFM, XPS and Auger
• Improving the sensitivity and efficiency of fragmention of the tandem MS spectrometer
• Developing 3D FIB-TOF-SIMS applications and improving the spatial resolution.
The candidate will also have access to the wide range of state of the art instruments present on the nanocharacterisation platform as well as bespoke samples coming from the advanced technology branches developed at the LETI. The candidate will also benefit from a collaboration with the instrument supplier.
Strudy and processing of C/SiC composites
For different applications, we are looking for materials having superior mechanical properties at high temperature (1000 ° C or higher) and that are resistant to oxidation. The family of ceramic matrix composite materials (CMC), especially C / SiC, seems the most relevant to our needs. However, it is necessary to conduct studies to determine the most efficient solutions among the wide variety of fibrous architectures and possible matrix microstructures, while taking into account the constraints related to available processes and targeted geometries. This work will be conducted in collaboration with other CEA laboratories.
Nano-silicon/graphene composites for high energy density lithium-ion batteries
This postdoctoral fellowship is part of the Graphene Flagship Core 2 H2020 european project (2018-2020) on the energy storage applications of graphene. In lithium-ion batteries, graphene associated to nanostructured silicon in a proper composite helps increase the energy capacity. Indeed graphene wraps silicon, reducing its reactivity with electrolyte and the formation of the SEI passivation layer. It also maintains a high electrical conductivity within the electrode.
The study will compare two technologies: graphene-silicon nanoparticles and graphene-silicon nanowires. The former composite, already explored in the above mentioned project, will be optimized in the present study. The latter is a new kind of composite, using a large scale silicon nanowire synthesis process recently patented in the lab. The postdoc will work within two laboratories: a technological research lab (LITEN) with expertise in batteries for transportation, and a fundamental research lab (INAC) with expertise in nanomaterial synthesis.
The postdoc will synthesize silicon nanowires for his/her composites at INAC. Following LITEN know-how, she/he will be in charge of composite formulation, battery fabrication and electrochemical cycling. He/she will systematically compare the electrochemical behavior of the nanoparticle and nanowire based silicon-graphene composites. Comparison will extend to the mechanism of capacity fading and SEI formation, thanks to the characterization means available at CEA Grenoble and in the European consortium: X-ray diffraction, electronic microscopy, XPS, FTIR, NMR spectroscopies. She/he will report her/his work within the international consortium (Cambride UK, Genova Italy, Graz Austria) meetings.
A 2-year post-doctoral position is open.
PhD in materials science is requested. Experience in nanocharacterization, nanochemistry and/or electrochemistry is welcome.
Applications are expected before May 31st, 2018.
Physisorption of chemical species on sensitive surfaces during transfer in controlled mini-environment in microelectronics industry
A characterization platform based on the connection concept between process and characterization tools through the use of a transfer box under vacuum was implemented allowing a quasi in-situ characterization of substrates (wafers) of the microelectronics. Currently, this transfer concept based simply on static vacuum inside a carrier box is satisfactory regarding the residual O or C on the surface of especially sensitive materials (Ge, Ta, Sb, Ti…) and the MOCVD layers growth on GST or III/V surfaces. Its optimization for more stringent applications (molecular bonding, epitaxy…) in terms of contamination surface prevention requires studies the understanding of the physico-chemical evolution of the surfaces.
The proposed work will be focused on physico chemical studies of the evolution and molecular contamination of surfaces during transfers and will take place in clean room. XPS, TD-GCMS and MS coupled to the carrier itself (to be implemented) will be used to address the sources (wall, seals, gaseous environment…) of the adsorbed chemical species implied and to determine the physisorption mechanisms on the substrates. The studied surfaces will be sensitive to the contaminants in such a way than the box environment impact will be extracted and studied parameters will be the nature of polymer seal used, the carrier box thermal conditioning, the vacuum level, the use of low pressure gaseous environment in the carrier (gas nature, pressure level…).
Influence of concentrated electrolytes on the hydration of ternary binders with reduced carbon footprint
The evolution of the cement industry towards reducing its environmental footprint is expected to lead to the gradual disappearance of high-clinker binders, which are currently used for the conditioning of certain types of radioactive waste, such as evaporator concentrates. In contrast, novel cements (e.g., CEM II/C-M, CEM VI, LC3) are under development or standardization, offering new opportunities to design cement-based matrices with reduced environmental impact. However, their performance needs to be thoroughly evaluated to anticipate their industrial implementation for radioactive waste management.
This project will focus particularly on the influence of key ionic species present in evaporator concentrates on the hydration of ternary binders consisting of clinker, calcined clay, and limestone filler. Experiments will be conducted using non-radioactive surrogates. In addition to commercial cements, laboratory-prepared mixes will be used, allowing for more precise control over the content of clinker and supplementary cementitious materials. To understand the mechanisms involved in ion-induced acceleration or retardation of cement hydration, the hydration rate, phase evolution and microstructure will be investigated using a variety of techniques. The experimental results will then be used as input data for thermodynamic modelling of the hydration of these low-carbon binders by concentrated electrolytes.
This project is aimed at a postdoctoral researcher interested in developing expertise in materials chemistry and thermodynamic modeling, with a focus on advancing low-carbon cement chemistry and exploring new solutions for radioactive waste conditioning. It will be conducted within the framework of the EURAD2 European project at the Design and Characterization of Mineral Materials Laboratory (CEA/LFCM), with opportunities for collaboration with other European laboratories.
Synthesis of inorganic monoliths functionalized with nanoparticles
Since 2008, the "Institut de Chimie Separative de Marcoule" (ICSM) and specifically the "Laboratoire des Nanomateriaux pour l’Energie et le Recyclage" (LNER) has developped specific skills in synthesis routes and studies of porous materials (BET, TEM, SEM, SAXS).
This post-doctoral position is devoted to the synthesis of inorganic monoliths using high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) as soft template, and particularly to the functionalization of these materials with nanoparticles (NP).
The use of an emulsion in the procedure allows to consider innovative ways of functionalizing the material. For example, the oil-water interface in the emulsion may be the site of adsorption of nanoparticles of interest for a given application. In our case the goal is to prepare an emulsion with high internal phase (> 50% vol) stabilized by both surfactants (required for mesoporosity) and NP of interest to functionalize the macroporosity. NPs are chosen to cover liquid effluent decontamination (zeolite, nonatitanate, clathrate)