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Li, Mingxin

Publications and source records attributed to Li, Mingxin.

6 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Transient behavior of oxide fuels with controlled microstructure and Cr2O3 additive

Abstract Microstructure and Cr 2 O 3 doping profoundly impact the thermal-mechanical properties and fracture of oxides fuels. It is a challenge to study the transient behavior of nuclear fuels under loss-of-coolant-event (LOCA). In this study, the crack behavior of UO 2 pellets with controlled grain structure and Cr 2 O 3 doping was tested with rapid power ramping (300−900 °C per min) mimicking a prototypical LOCA heating profile. Dense micron-sized UO 2 pellets display well-maintained integrity without cracking with the ramping up to 1500 °C at a heating rate of 8 °C per second. Fracture occurs in both pure and Cr 2 O 3 -doped dense nano-sized UO 2 pellets. The Cr 2 O 3 doped oxide fuel pellet with a larger grain size (~ 22.2 μm) displays the best performance under LOCA testing due to its highest thermal conductivity under high temperature. FEA calculations suggest a temperature gradient across the fuel pellet during transient testing, resulting in residual stress and cracking, which can be correlated with their thermal-mechanical properties.

Zhao, Dong (ORCID:0000000191377257)↗
DOE OSTI2021

A systematic study of lanthanide titanates (A 2 Ti 2 O 7 ) chemical durability: corrosion mechanisms and control parameters

Dense lanthanide titanates ranging from La 2 Ti 2 O 7 to Yb 2 Ti 2 O 7 were synthesized by spark plasma sintering with similar micro-sized microstructure, and their chemical durability and degradation mechanisms were investigated by semi-dynamic leaching tests. Different corrosion mechanisms from incongruent to congruent dissolution were observed with preferential elemental releases of lanthanides in A 2 Ti 2 O 7 (A = La to Gd) and Ti in Er 2 Ti 2 O 7 and Yb 2 Ti 2 O 7 . Initial leaching was controlled by surface dissolution and long-term dissolution shifted to a diffusion-controlled mechanism for titanate pyrochlores from Sm 2 Ti 2 O 7 to Yb 2 Ti 2 O 7 . Both short-term and long-term leaching rates decreased from La 2 Ti 2 O 7 to Yb 2 Ti 2 O 7 , and materials became more corrosion resistant with decreasing ionic radius ratios of the rare-earth elements and titanium. Amorphous passivation films of several nm-thick enriched with Ti formed on the surfaces of the corroded materials, and the formation mechanisms were governed either by surface reorganization with preferential release of lanthanides or dissolution-precipitation from saturated bulk solutions with preferential release of titanium. Finally, these results demonstrate that the ionic size plays a dominant role in determining chemical durability of lanthanide titanates and a strong correlation is established among chemical composition/structural variation, passivation film formation and corrosion mechanisms, and materials chemical durability.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2019

Deciphering the degradation mechanism of the lead-free all inorganic perovskite Cs2SnI6

Abstract Organic-inorganic perovskite materials are revolutionizing photovoltaics with high power conversion efficiencies, but experience significant environmental degradation and instability. In this work, the phase stability and decomposition mechanisms of lead-free all inorganic Cs 2 SnI 6 perovskite upon water and moisture exposure were systematically investigated via in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction, environmental SEM, and micro-Raman spectroscopy. A critical relative humidity (80%) is identified below which Cs 2 SnI 6 perovskite is stable without decomposition. Under higher humidity or aqueous environment, Cs 2 SnI 6 perovskite decomposes into SnI 4 and CsI through etch pits formation and stepwave propagation, leading to rapid crystal dissolution. A partial reversibility of the Cs 2 SnI 6 perovskite upon dissolution and re-precipitation with subsequent dehydration was identified, suggesting a self-healing capability of Cs 2 SnI 6 and thus enhanced air stability. Mechanistic understanding of the Cs 2 SnI 6 degradation behavior can be a vital step towards developing new perovskites with enhanced environmental stability and materials performance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗