Nuclear Engineering ETDs

Publication Date

Fall 12-13-2025

Abstract

As energy demands increase, nuclear reactors, especially microreactors, become a promising energy source. These reactors run at high temperatures (>280°C), requiring moderators that can endure these environments. Yttrium hydride is a possible moderator, but little is known about the material’s phase stability and hydrogen retention under irradiation. Through the use of a gold ion beam, samples with stoichiometries ranging from 1.6 to 2.0 were irradiated and tested. Through Vickers hardness testing, a model was created showing a correlation between hydrogen content and hardness. Raman spectroscopy showed high temperature and irradiated samples have significant hydrogen loss. XRD quantified this hydrogen loss and showed that YH1.8 may retain hydrogen under irradiation. Nanoindentation supported this and proved that mechanical testing methods can help determine hydrogen content in yttrium hydride. Through these methods, yttrium hydride’s hydrogen retention and phase stability can be better understood and its use in a microreactor can be determined.

Keywords

Material Science, Microreactors, Metal Hydride

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

Degree Name

Nuclear Engineering

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Nuclear Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Eric Lang

Second Committee Member

Minghui Chen

Third Committee Member

Osman Anderoglu

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