Diffusion Behavior of Iodine in the Micro/Nano-Porous Graphite for Nuclear Reactor at High Temperature

Abstract

The diffusion behavior of iodine in micro/nano-porous graphite under high-temperature conditions was studied using analysis methods such as Rutherford backscattering Spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. The results indicate that iodine diffusion leads to the Lattice Contractions in Microcrystals, a decrease in interlayer spacing, and a rise of defect density. And the reversal or repair of microstructure change was observed: the microcrystal size of the graphite increases, the interlayer spacing appears to return to the initial state, and the defect density decreases, upon diffusion of iodine out of iodine-loaded graphite. The comparative study comparing the iodine diffusion performance of nanoporous graphite (G400 and G450) between microporous graphite (G500), showed that nanoporous graphite exhibits a better barrier to the iodine diffusion. The study on the diffusion behavior of iodine in micro/nano-porous graphite holds substantial academic and engineering value for the screening, design, and performance optimization of nuclear graphite.

Keywords

• micro/nano-porous graphite
• iodine
• diffusion
• Rutherford backscattering spectrometry