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DOE OSTI · 3030660

Advanced Materials for Plasma-Exposed Robust Electrodes

Wirz, Richard [Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)]
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Abstract

The AMPERE project developed a new class of electrode materials that dramatically improve fusion device performance and longevity. By using Volumetrically Complex Materials (VCMs)—advanced porous metal foams optimized via plasma-material interaction science—the project achieved up to 85% reduction in sputtering erosion under fusion-relevant plasma conditions, far surpassing the goal of 40% reduction. This means these novel electrodes produce far fewer impurities and debris in the plasma, addressing a key challenge in fusion reactors by allowing greater plasma efficiency and power output due to the reduction of power losses due to unwanted interactions with wall-borne impurities.

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Wirz, Richard [Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)]. 2026-04-23. Advanced Materials for Plasma-Exposed Robust Electrodes. https://doi.org/10.2172/3030660

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