Exploration of local structural environment in radiation damage tolerant materials

High entropy alloys, a relatively new class of materials, represent a novel alloy design strategy based on combining multiple elements in near-equiatomic proportions. The field is based on four core principles, many of which directly relate to atomic scale structural effects within the system, such as local atomic displacements and configurational environments.

These materials are being investigated for a number of possible applications. One potential beneficial property demonstrated by some high- and medium-entropy alloys is radiation damage tolerance for nuclear applications, which it has been suggested relates to the local environment. Answering questions about the local atomic environment in these materials is essential if they are to be tuned for purpose.

Total scattering, a type of diffraction method based on examining the pattern produced by X-rays/Neutrons scattered from a sample, provides a probe of the local atomic environment in material systems. The development of large box modelling methods, Reverse Monte Carlo, has already provided useful insights in a host of complex chemical systems, functional oxides and metal organic frameworks from total scattering data.

Recently, the application of the technique has been demonstrated for exploring local effects, such as short-range order, in simple binary metallic systems.

This PhD project will look at the application of total scattering to the study of radiation damage tolerant materials. Materials demonstrating promising radiation damage tolerant properties will be selected. The physical properties of the material will be tested and correlated with the underlying local structure.