Energy materials

The Tandem Laboratory has a specific focus on energy related materials. As resource effectiveness is mandatory, accurate materials characterisation can help to tailor synthesis and screening for new materials properties.

Hydrogen storage materials

When hydrogen is introduced into various metals, hydrides are formed, a characteristic that can be used for hydrogen storage applications.

At the Tandem Laboratory, we study hydrides in different transition metal alloys and systems of reduced dimensionality that can offer high loading capacities and reversible hydrogen storage solutions.

Ion beam analysis methods can be employed to accurately obtain the chemical composition of these alloys and to quantify and depth profile hydrogen. It is even possible to gain information on hydrogen site locations and induced changes to the lattice of the host material.

Fusion materials

In future fusion reactors, the materials used for walls and other parts will be subjected to extreme conditions from the fusion plasma.

At the Tandem Laboratory we can perform in-situ and real-time laboratory-scale studies to investigate the formation and modification of these plasma-facing components under reactor-relevant conditions. We also analyse tiles and samples removed from tokamaks after experimental campaigns to estimate fuel retention and materials modification caused by reactor operation.

Our fundamental research on ion-solid interactions provides relevant nuclear data for simulations of fusion environments as well as further improves our capabilities within ion beam analysis.

Fission materials

The development of accident tolerant fuels and in-core reactor components is a vital aspect of continuously improving reactor safety and ensuring the scale-up of carbon-free power generation in the coming decades.

At the Tandem Laboratory, we study safety relevant properties of current nuclear fuel types as well as candidate generation-4 fuel types. We also investigate materials with improved safety characteristics for use in in-core reactor components, such as fuel cladding.

Our broad infrastructure with regards to ion beam analysis and ion-beam based materials modification, provide us with unique capabilities. We are able to safely and cost effectively study the effects of high radiation environments on bulk and micro-structural properties of materials, we have the ability to introduce specific and representative fission products into materials without the need for neutron irradiation, and we can study the diffusion of volatile elements in materials under controlled conditions.

Photochromic materials

Selected publications