Dr Alex Leide - UK Atomic Energy Authority

Research Fellowships 2022

Dr Leide is developing materials which enable advanced nuclear reactors to run at higher temperatures. Higher operating temperatures approaching 1000°C allow reactors to offer more than just electricity; high temperature heat can be used to reduce CO₂ emissions from energy intensive industries such as the hydrogen economy, steel making, and chemical production. To achieve this, advanced ceramic materials are being developed to replace conventional metals which are limited to modest maximum operating temperatures, but these new materials need thorough testing. Dr Leide is deploying methods to test materials in conditions as close as possible to reactor environments, including at high temperatures, after irradiation, and exposed to corrosive environments. These methods span length scales from simulations of a few atoms, through micromechanical testing, to representative volumes of material which are relevant to engineering designs. Applications include the structural materials of the ‘breeder blanket’ in fusion reactors, and the coated fuel particles and fuel pellets of generation IV high temperature gas cooled fission reactors.

Personal website:

www.linkedin.com/in/alex-leide