A highly electrophilic cationic Pd(II) complex, [Pd(MeCN)4][BF4]2 (1), brings about the preferential activation of the B-H bond in ammonia-borane (NH3·BH3, AB). At room temperature, the reaction between 1 in CH3NO2 and AB in tetraglyme leads to Pd nanoparticles and formation of spent fuels of the general formula MeNHxBOy as reaction byproducts, while 2 equiv. of H2 is efficiently released per A...

A new acoustical sensing system for the nuclear power industry has been developed at The Pennsylvania State University in collaboration with Idaho National Laboratories. This sensor uses the high temperatures of nuclear fuel to convert a nuclear fuel rod into a standing-wave thermoacoustic engine. When a standing wave is generated, the sound wave within the fuel rod will be propagated, by acous...

With growing demands for commercial nuclear power, there is also a growing need for better energy efficiency from nuclear power reactors. In order to reach a high burnup up to 100 MWd/kg, previous research has examined the use of thorium-plutonium mixedoxide fuel as a potential candidate for this high-burnup goal. Though the neutronics studies have looked upon this fuel type favorably, the purp...

In the Advanced Fuel Cycle Research & Development (AFC R&D) activities, the uranium extraction (UREX+1) process is proposed as one of the most promising technique to separate transuranic elements (TRU) from light water reactor spent nuclear fuel in the years to come. The isotope Tc will be separated together with U within the first process steps. After the separation of U, Tc must be immobilize...