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UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME DU LAC

We propose the creation of an Energy Frontiers Research Center that brings together 19 senior scientists from seven universities (University of Notre Dame, University of Michigan, University of California at Davis, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Auburn University, George Washington University, Texas A&M University) and three national laboratories (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratory, Savannah River National Laboratory) to conduct transformative research in the solid-state actinide sciences. Experimental and computational approaches will be fully integrated, and the center will emphasize research questions that are important to the energy future of the nation. Workforce development will be a major emphasis of this university-based center.Research will focus on actinide-based materials, especially those with nanoscale and otherwise complex structures, and the properties of these materials in extreme environments. The research program includes extensive synthesis of actinide materials that are likely to lead to revolutionary new forms of matter with tailored properties. The self-radiation in such materials results in conditions far from equilibrium; thus, the effects of radiation are emphasized in this program. The nanoscale assembly of actinides into new materials has the potential to create new technologies, and will build upon our considerable success in this area. Research will be in three theme areas: (1) Complex actinide materials, (2) Nanoscale actinide materials, and (3) Actinide materials under extreme environments. Cross-cutting research themes that integrate the program are (1) Actinide behavior at the nanoscale, (2) Thermochemistry of actinide materials, (3) Synthesis of new types of actinide materials, and (4) Modeling of actinide materials. Research will focus on actinide-based materials with potential applications in nuclear energy. These include fluorite-structure solid-solution series (with actinides, lanthanides and zirconium) as potential fuel types and waste forms, apatite-structure materials for actinide immobilization, actinyl materials with complex structural topologies, nanoscale clusters of actinyl polyhedra with fullurene and other topologies for nanoscale control of chemical reactions of actinides, mesoporous uranium-based materials as potential nanocomposite waste forms, and inorganic ion exchangers for actinides. Planned studies of these materials include their thermodynamics, reactions with aqueous and other solutions, surface properties, and resistance to radiation damage under the combined extreme environments of radiation dose, pressure and temperature. The research makes extensive use of Department of Energy user facilities, including the Advanced Photon Source, the National Synchrotron Light Source, the Spallation Neutron Source, the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, and the IVEM-tandem Facility. The management plan for this center calls for a director (P.C. Burns) who will be advised by a Scientific Advisory Board of distinguished scholars from outside the center, an Institutional Advisory Board consisting of the vice presidents for research at UND, UM and UCD, an Executive Committee consisting of the co-investigators, and a Research Advisory Committee with members selected from the senior investigators of the center. The management structure is designed to facilitate emphasis on high-risk, high-reward fundamental research. The workforce development plan focuses on graduate students (22) and post-doctoral fellows (13 to 16), and includes research experiences for undergraduates. A major goal is to educate young scientists in and attract them to actinide science.

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