Deuterium addition to liquid Li-Sn alloys: implications for plasma-facing applications

Liquid metals are being explored actively as candidates for plasma-facing components (PFCs) in fusion reactors. Recently, Li-Sn alloys have appeared as promising alternatives that could overcome some of the challenges faced by the well-studied liquid Li system, namely, a vapor pressure that limits t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nuclear fusion 2020-01, Vol.60 (1), p.16025
Main Authors: del Rio, Beatriz G., Gautam, Gopalakrishnan Sai, Carter, Emily A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
deuterium retention
liquid metals
lithium
tin
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Summary:Liquid metals are being explored actively as candidates for plasma-facing components (PFCs) in fusion reactors. Recently, Li-Sn alloys have appeared as promising alternatives that could overcome some of the challenges faced by the well-studied liquid Li system, namely, a vapor pressure that limits the operating temperature and a high hydrogen isotope retention. However, only scarce data (experimental or theoretical) are available concerning the performance of Li-Sn alloys, specifically only for the compositions of Li30Sn70 and Li20Sn80, related to their bonding and retention of deuterium (D). Here, we present a comprehensive, first-principles molecular-dynamics study of static and dynamic properties of liquid Li30Sn70 at various D concentrations. We observe the formation of D2 gas bubbles for β in Li30Sn70Dβ greater than 22.5 along with Li segregation towards D2 bubbles. To understand the effect of Sn addition on D retention in Li-Sn alloys, we perform a thermodynamic evaluation of maximum D retention in Li-rich Li-Sn alloys. Overall, this work will provide useful data and guidance in the development of Li-Sn PFCs in fusion reactors.
ISSN:0029-5515
1741-4326
DOI:10.1088/1741-4326/ab523c