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In this work, Ce-doped yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and pure YSZ phases were subjected to irradiation with 14 MeV Au ions. Irradiation studies were performed to simulate long-term structural and microstructural damage due to self-irradiation in YSZ phases hosting alpha-active radioactive species. It was found that both the Ce-doped YSZ and the YSZ phases had a reasonable tolerance to irradiation at high ion fluences and the bulk crystallinity was well preserved. Nevertheless, local microstrain increased in all compounds under study after irradiation, with the Ce-doped phases being less affected than pure YSZ. Doping with cerium ions increased the microstructural stability of YSZ phases through a possible reduction in the mobility of oxygen atoms, which limits the formation of structural defects. Doping of YSZ with tetravalent actinide elements is expected to have a similar effect. Thus, YSZ phases are promising for the safe long-term storage of radioactive elements. Using synchrotron radiation diffraction, measurements of the thin irradiated layers of the Ce-YSZ and YSZ samples were performed in grazing incidence (GI) mode. A corresponding module for measurements in GI mode was developed at the Rossendorf Beamline and relevant technical details for sample alignment and data collection are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The development of low decontaminated mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, which contains minor actinoides (MA) and fission products (FP), is in progress to established Advanced Fast Reactor (FR) Fuel Cycle system. This paper describes the study on the sintering characteristics and the physical properties of MOX fuel containing Am, Np, and simulated FP. MOX powder containing Am, Np and simulated FP were sintered at high temperature in various oxygen partial pressure. From the result of ceramography, it is found that the grain growth rate of the pellets sintered in high oxygen partial pressure is high. From the result of EPMA analysis (Pu, Am, Ln) oxide was observed in the pellets. The melting points of the pellets with oxygen to metal (O/M) ratio of 1.95 are higher than those with O/M ratio of 1.98. This tendency is similar to that of MOX fuel containing about 30% Pu. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]