Post-doctoral researcher in materials science for studying experimentally the fission products diffusion in advanced nuclear fuels M/F (H/F)

7 Feb 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

CNRS

Department

Laboratoire de physique des 2 infinis - Irène Joliot-Curie

Research Field

Physics

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

France

Application Deadline

27 Feb 2024 - 23:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

35

Offer Starting Date

1 May 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Subject: Role of chromium on the release of volatile fission products in UO2
Safety is a key issue for nuclear power plant operation due to the potential radiological consequences of an accident with regard to the environment and population. New fuels that could tolerate a severe accident in a reactor core for a longer time than the current UO2/Zr alloy system while maintaining fuel performance during normal operation are being studied. These Accident-Tolerant Fuels (ATFs) would enhance resistance to stress corrosion cracking due to pellet-clad interaction and increase the retention of gaseous fission products (FP), in order to avoid as much as possible radioactivity release and minimize the environmental impact of an accident. This double goal may be achieved by adding dopants like chromium to the UO2 fuel, whose main effect is to increases notably the material grain size. The gain of Cr-doped UO2 fuel on the fission gas retention was demonstrated during power ramp tests. However, no data are available on the release of non-gaseous FP, especially volatile FP susceptible to be released in the environment during an accident (in particular caesium and iodine). Cs and I are volatile FP that have a major radiological impact in case of release of their isotopes 137Cs and 131I. In this context, the BENEFICIA project funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR) proposes to study the mobility and chemistry of these key FP in Cr-doped UO2 fuel, in view to evaluate the impact of the dopant on the radioactivity release in case of accident. This project gathers five teams (IP2I – coordinator, IJCLab, IRSN, CEA, FRAMATOME) including the major actors in charge of the conception and safety evaluation of nuclear reactors in France.
The main aim of the study proposed as part of this post-doctoral contract is in one hand to study the chromium effect on the uranium dioxides microstructure by using ion beam analysis techniques, and in the other hand, to help in the study of FP diffusion in Cr-doped fuels, by observing the potential presence of precipitates using transmission electron microscopy.
This research work will be carried out at IJCLab, a laboratory located in Orsay, France, which hosts accelerators and microscope platforms for various disciplines, including materials science. The postdoctoral researcher will be part of the CHIMèNE team at the Energy end Environment pole.
The research carried out at IJCLab during this post-doctoral opportunity will be in close collaboration with partners of the BENEFICIA ANR project (BEhaviour of NEw Fuel In Case of Incidents and Accidents), and in particular the IP2I laboratory in Lyon.

The postdoc activities at IJCLab will include the following:
- Ion Beam Analysis (RBS/C, PIXE/C) and detailed analysis of the obtained spectra, to determine the chromium localization in the uranium dioxide lattice,
- Thin foils preparation and Transmission Electron Microscopy experiment on Cr-doped/implanted nuclear fuel and/or implanted at several concentrations of fission products analogues (Cs, I) and submitted to various thermal treatments, to check the presence of any precipitates,
- Synthesis and publication of microstructural observations in collaboration with the researchers at IJCLab and within BENEFICIA project working on this subject, and presentations at working meetings and international conferences.

The Irène Joliot-Curie Physics Laboratory of 2 Infinities (IJCLab), supported by the CNRS (IN2P3 Institute) and the University Paris-Saclay, is located on the campus in Orsay, 20 kms south of Paris and easily accessible by RER train in 35 minutes.
The research themes of the laboratory are nuclear physics, high energy physics, theoretical physics, astroparticles, astrophysics and cosmology, particle accelerators, energy and environment, and physics for health. IJCLab has very significant technical capacities (around 280 technicians/engineers) in all the major fields required to design, develop / implement the experimental devices necessary for its scientific activity, as well as the design, development and use of instruments. See https://www.ijclab.in2p3.fr
The post-doctoral researcher will work in the CHIMENE team of the Energy and Environment pole at IJCLab (https://energie.ijclab.in2p3.fr/materiaux-et-irradiation/ ), with access to the microscopes and accelerators of the MOSAIC facility (https://mosaic.ijclab.in2p3.fr/ ). A close work is also foreseen with researchers at IP2I Lyon and other French labs within the BENEFICIA ANR project.
Remuneration will be based on professional experience.
The position is located in a sector under the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST), and therefore requires, in accordance with the regulations, that your arrival is authorized by the competent authority of the MESR.

Requirements

Research Field

Physics

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Languages

FRENCH

Level

Basic

Research Field

Physics

Years of Research Experience

None

Additional Information
Eligibility criteria

- PhD in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry
- Experience in Ion Beam Analysis (mandatory)
- Experience in thin foil preparation / Transmission Electron Microscopy (desired)
- Experience in ceramics (desired)
- Ability to synthetize results in written and oral formats
- Good command of English language (reading, writing, speaking), French language desired
- Ability to write and publish scientific results
- Ability to conduct collaborative and team work
- Ability to work while respecting rules and procedures
- Autonomy, organisational and briefing skills

Website for additional job details

https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/UMR9012-BERUST-009/Default.aspx

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Laboratoire de physique des 2 infinis - Irène Joliot-Curie

Country

France

City

ORSAY

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Candidat/Offre/UMR9012-BERUST-009/Candidater.aspx

Contact

City

ORSAY

STATUS: EXPIRED