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Influence of stoichiometry on radiation-induced effects in advanced two-phase functional materials for future thermonuclear fusion reactors

Identification number: LZP-2024/1-0162

Type: Latvian Council of Science Fundamental and Applied Research project

Duration: 01.01.2025. - 31.12.2027.

Project Leader: Dr. Artūrs Zariņš, University of Latvia

Responsible person from ISSP UL: Guna Doķe, Institute of Solid State Physics University of Latvia (ISSP UL)

Project partners: University of Latvia

Total funding: 300 000 EUR

ISSP UL funding: 120 000 EUR

 

Project summary:

Advanced ceramic breeder pebbles consisting of lithium orthosilicate as the primary phase and lithium metatitanate as the secondary phase are developed as the European Union’s reference material for tritium breeding in future thermonuclear fusion reactors. The aim of this applied research project is to characterise the influence of stoichiometry on radiation-induced effects in single- and two-phase lithium orthosilicate-lithium metatitanate samples exposed to X-rays. The samples without and with deficiency and excess of lithium, silicon, and titanium will be prepared using the solid-state synthesis method and analysed using different physico-chemical methods. Rietveld analysis of high-resolution powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns will be employed to determine the potential changes of crystalline phase lattice parameters and atomic positions. The formed and accumulated paramagnetic radiation-induced defect centres will be studied using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The scientific findings will be published in internationally peer-reviewed journals or conference proceedings (Q1 and Q2), which are indexed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The obtained results will be used to prepare project proposals for submission in Latvian and international calls for research and development projects. This project will contribute to the Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3) area “Smart energetics” and to the development of international nuclear energy sector.

 

PROJECT PROGRESS:

Publications:

  1. A. Antuzevics, G. Krieke, J. Cirulis, M. Rzepna, M. Gonzalez, J.M. Leys, R. Knitter, A. Zarins. Paramagnetic radiation-induced defect centres and their correlation with the optical properties of irradiated advanced ceramic breeder pebbles. Nuclear Materials and Energy, 45 (2025) 102035. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nme.2025.102035 (impact factor: 2.7, Q1, open access)

  2. L.D. Pakalniete, A. Liepkalne, L. Avotina, A. Kons, A. Antuzevics, G. Krieke, G. Doke, J. Cirulis, A. Zarins. Influence of lithium precursor deficiency and excess during solid-state synthesis on radiation-induced effects in two-phase Li4SiO4-Li2TiO3 composite material. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 632 (2026) 156865, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2026.156865 (impact factor: 3.2, Q1)

International scientific conferences

  1. A. Zarins, L.D. Pakalniete, A. Liepkalne, L. Avotina, A. Kons, G. Krieke, J. Cirulis, A. Antuzevics. Influence of lithium precursor deficiency and excess during solid-state synthesis on radiation-induced effects in biphasic Li4SiO4-Li2TiO3 ceramics. 22nd International Workshop on Ceramic Breeder Blanket Interactions (CBBI-22), 6-8 October 2025, Kyoto, Japan. Proceedings, Kyoto, Japan, 2025, p. 163 – 169.

  2. L.D. Pakalniete, A. Liepkalne, L. Avotina, A. Kons, A. Antuzevics, G. Krieke, M. Rzepna, A. Shaimerdenov, A. Zarins. Characterisation of paramagnetic radiation-induced defect centres in biphasic Li4SiO4-Li2TiO3 ceramics under exposure to various types of ionising radiation. International Conference Functional Materials and Nanotechnologies 2026 (FM&NT 2026), 15-18 June 2026, Riga, Latvia. Book of abstracts, Riga, Latvia, 2026, p. 283 – 284.

  3. G. Krieke, L.D. Pakalniete, A. Antuzevics, A. Liepkalne, L. Avotina, A. Kons, G. Doke, J. Cirulis, A. Zarins. The role of radiation-induced defects on spectroscopic properties of lithium orthosilicate, lithium metatitanate and their composites. International Conference Functional Materials and Nanotechnologies 2026 (FM&NT 2026), 15-18 June 2026,  Riga, Latvia. Book of abstracts, Riga, Latvia, 2026, p. 251 -252.

Local scientific conferences

  1. A. Antuzevics, L.D. Pakalniete, A. Liepkalne, L. Avotina, A. Kons, G. Krieke, J. Cirulis, A. Zarins. Investigation of paramagnetic radiation-induced defect centres in lithium orthosilicate – lithium metatitanate ceramics. 41st International Scientific Conference of the ISSP UL, 3-7 March 2025, Riga, Latvia.

  2. L.D. Pakalniete, A. Antuzevics, A. Liepkalne, L. Avotina, A. Kons, G. Krieke, A. Zarins. Formation of paramagnetic radiation-induced defect centres in two-phase lithium orthosilicate-lithium metatitanate composite material. 84th International Scientific Conference of the UL, 16 April 2026, Riga, Latvia. Book of Abstracts, Riga, Latvia, 2026, p. 741 – 742.

  3. A. Liepkalne, L.D. Pakalniete, A. Kons, L. Avotina, A. Antuzevics, M. Rzepna, A. Zarins. Radiation stability characterisation of lithium-containing ceramic materials with different crystalline phase compositions for application in nuclear fusion reactors. 84th International Scientific Conference of the UL, 16 April 2026, Riga, Latvia. Book of Abstracts, Riga, Latvia, 2026, p. 731 – 732.