Perovskites as potential candidates for storage and conversion of spent nuclear fuel energy

Abstract

Energy harvesting is a versatile approach that holds promise for generating clean energy and enhancing the sustainability of infrastructure. Given the challenges associated with nuclear waste, such as radiation levels and long-term storage requirements, developing suitable materials for energy harvesting is crucial. These materials must be capable of withstanding the harsh conditions present in nuclear waste storage facilities while efficiently capturing and converting energy. The objective of this work was to study lead halide perovskites (MAPbCl₃ and MAPbI₃.) in terms of their application for conversion and storage of energy released from spent nuclear fuel. Firstly, in this work, the detailed analysis of MAPbCl₃ and MAPbI₃ irradiated by spent nuclear fuel assembly IRT–4 M (consisting of high energy gamma photons and suppressed neutron fluxes) was done. The spent nuclear fuel irradiation practically did not change the materials structures, composition, chemical bonds, phase transitions (temperatures, energies). On the other side, irradiation caused the defects in the electron shells. Our results confirm the possibility of using the investigated perovskites for the conversion and storage of energy from spent nuclear fuel: 1. to convert the energy of spent nuclear fuel assembly into release of the electrical charge (photogenerated electron-hole pairs) and 2. to store the spent fuel energy into perovskite high temperature crystal phase. When the radiation increases the temperature up to high temperature first order phase transition the energy is consumed/stored into the high temperature material phase. As wide range of perovskite materials have very diverse first order phase transition temperatures it is possible to match the specific spent nuclear fuel radiation dose with the proper perovskite phase transition temperature. Finally, the photogenerated charges should efficiently extracted from the material and the stored energy can be released and subsequently reused by lowering the temperature (typically after removing the perovskite from the spent nuclear fuel cask) until the material returns to the low-temperature phase.