Sumit Bhattacharya

Profile Information

Name

Dr. Sumit Bhattacharya

Institution

Argonne National Laboratory

Position

Principle Material Scientist

Affiliation

ANS

h-Index

ORCID

0000-0002-6251-6075

Biography

Dr. Sumit Bhattacharya is a Materials Scientist in the Chemical and Fuel Cycle (CFC) division at Argonne National Laboratory. He is part of the Advanced Fuels and Materials group under the department of Fuel Development and Qualification (FDQ) group at Argonne. His primary research focus has been in the field of surface science/surface modifications to understand and generate thin film coatings for diverse nuclear applications.

Dr. Bhattacharya has been helping develop various successful coatings specifically designed for nuclear fuel and its cladding to function as a barrier against metal and oxygen diffusion. To generate these single and tailored multilayer coatings for use as diffusion barriers against metals, he has used techniques such as atomic layer deposition (ALD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), and electrochemical deposition methods. Multilayer coatings have been primarily designed to survive extreme thermal cycling while remaining inside a nuclear environment. He has also applied the coating technique of corroding mediums within a high temperature nuclear environment.

Dr. Bhattacharya has been collaborating with researchers both from CFC as well as the Nuclear Science and Engineering division at Argonne to implement these coatings in projects involving both private and public partners. His research also focuses on developing techniques involving electrophoretic/electrochemical depositions, from which he has successfully developed methods to generate thicker ceramic/metal films and composite coatings.

Dr. Bhattacharya is a current participant in Argonne’s Launchpad Program, designed to provide motivated early- and mid-career researchers with enhanced training and mentoring for developing multimillion-dollar sponsored research programs. He has been inducted in the Launchpad group called “Material Innovations to Advance High-performance Nuclear Microreactors Development” for his expertise in the surface science field. As part of the Launchpad Program, his team is developing and promoting designs to enable next-generation nuclear microreactors through cutting-edge material innovations and to efficiently commercialize these solutions while accelerating proof-of-concept of these innovations to attract more industry interests. Dr. Bhattacharya’s primary role on the team will be to design and develop materials (e.g., coatings) tuned for very high temperature nuclear applications to protect the base materials, which can range from heat exchangers to moderators and heat pipes.

Expertise

Nuclear Materials

Publications:

		"Cross section TEM characterization of high-energy-Xe-irradiated U-Mo" Sumit Bhattacharya, Journal of Nuclear Materials Vol. 488 2019 134-142 Link U-Mo alloys irradiated with 84 MeV Xe ions to various doses were characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) techniques. The TEM thin foils were prepared perpendicular to the irradiated surface to allow a direct observation of the entire region modified by ions. Therefore, depth-selective microstructural information was revealed. Varied irradiation-induced phenomena such as gas bubble formation, phase reversal, and recrystallization were observed at different ion penetration depths in U-Mo.
		"In situ TEM Ion Irradiation Investigations on U3Si2 at LWR Temperatures" Sumit Bhattacharya, Journal of Nuclear Materials Vol. 484 2016 168-173 Link The radiation-induced amorphization of U3Si2 was investigated by in-situ transmission electron microscopy using 1 MeV Kr ion irradiation. Both arc-melted and sintered U3Si2 specimens were irradiated at room temperature to confirm the similarity in their responses to radiation. The sintered specimens were then irradiated at 350 °C and 550 °C up to 7.2 × 1015 ions/cm2 to examine their amorphization behavior under light water reactor (LWR) conditions. U3Si2 remains crystalline under irradiation at LWR temperatures. Oxidation of the material was observed at high irradiation doses.
		"Nanocrystalline ZrN thin film development via atomic layer deposition for U-Mo powder" Sumit Bhattacharya, Journal of Nuclear Materials Vol. 526 2019 Link Zirconium nitride (ZrN) thin film deposited via thermal atomic layer deposition (ALD) has been recently chosen as a candidate technology for application of a diffusion barrier coating on the low enriched uranium alloy powder considered in the NNSA research reactor conversion program. Reported here is the f irst instance of using ALD for coating actinide materials. For this study, a modified ALD system was constructed to produce one micron thick zirconium nitride (ZrN) coating over spherical particulate of natural uranium-molybdenum (U-Mo) based fuel. The ALD system was designed to have a rotating drum system, with provisions for facilitating sequential exposures of chemicals such as tetrakis dimethyl amido zirconium (TDMAZr) and ammonia (NH3) in order to deposit ZrN. The ALD system was successful in developing a highly conformal ZrN coating covering every individual U-7Mo particle. This article describes the ZrN film synthesis details and reports the produced microstructure and composition of the ALD ZrN as deposited on fuel particulates. The as-fabricated coating was determined to have a nanocrystalline structure in the cubic-ZrN (cF8) phase. It exhibited a dense microstructure with adequate interfacial bonding. TEM-EELS characterization demonstrated that the coating contains a very low amount of oxygen impurity. To understand the potential microstructural evolution for ALD ZrN during reactor operation, an in-situ heavy ion (Kr) irradiation experiment was performed at the IVEM-Tandem facility. A total fluence of 7.5 1015 ions/cm2 (~10 dpa) was achieved, and apart from minor grain coarsening in the ALD ZrN coating, no significant radiation effects were observed.
		"Nano-crystallization induced by high-energy heavy ion irradiation in UO2" Sumit Bhattacharya, Scripta Materialia Vol. 155 2018 169-174 Link Advanced microstructure investigations of the high-burnup structure (HBS) in UO2 produced by high-dose 84 MeV Xe ion irradiation are reported. Spark plasma sintered micro-grained UO2 was irradiated to 1357 dpa at 350 °C. The characteristic nano-grains and micro-pores of the HBS were formed. The grain size and grain boundary misorientation distributions of the HBS were measured using transmission electron microscopy based orientation imaging microscopy. Grain polygonization due to accumulation of radiation-induced dislocations was found to be the mechanism of nano-crystallization. The morphology of Xe bubbles was quantitatively investigated. This study provides crucial references for advanced fuel performance modeling of high-burnup UO2

Additional Publications:

	"Zirconium nanoparticle coating development for FCCI diffusion barrier in nuclear cladding" Mason Childs, Sumit Bhattacharya, Abdellatif Yacout, Matteo Moceri, Laura Sudderth, Sarah Hamilton, [2023] Surface and Coatings Technology · DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2023.129501
	"Effectiveness of the metal coating on U–7Mo dispersion fuel in Al during irradiation" Yeon Soo Kim, Y.J. Jeong, K. Mo, Y. Miao, B. Ye, A. Oaks, S. Bhattacharya, K.H. Lee, K.N. Kim, J.M. Park, A.M. Yacout, Sunghwan Kim, [2020] Journal of Nuclear Materials · DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2019.151945 · EID: 2-s2.0-85076142817
	"Improving stability of ALD ZrN thin film coatings over U-Mo dispersion fuel" Kun Mo, Zhigang Mei, David Seidman, Bertrand Stepnik, Michael J. Pellin, Abdellatif M. Yacout, Sumit Bhattacharya, [2020] Applied Surface Science · DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2020.147378 · EID: 2-s2.0-85089431738
	"Nano-grained UO2 grain growth kinetics at 600-800°C: An in-situ synchrotron x-ray study" [2020] GLOBAL 2019 - International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Conference and TOP FUEL 2019 - Light Water Reactor Fuel Performance Conference · EID: 2-s2.0-85081094815
	"Effect of Al2O3 coating on fretting wear performance of Zr alloy" O.O. Ajayi, K. Hartman, S. Bhattacharya, A. Yacout, C. Lorenzo-Martin, [2019] Wear · DOI: 10.1016/j.wear.2018.12.024
	"Effect of Al 2 O 3 coating on fretting wear performance of Zr alloy" O.O. Ajayi, K. Hartman, S. Bhattacharya, A. Yacout, C. Lorenzo-Martin, [2019] Wear · DOI: 10.1016/j.wear.2018.12.024 · EID: 2-s2.0-85058783674
	"Interaction between Al and atomic layer deposited (ALD) ZrN under high-energy heavy ion irradiation" Xiang Liu, Yinbin Miao, Kun Mo, Zhi-Gang Mei, Laura Jamison, Walid Mohamed, Aaron Oaks, Ruqing Xu, Shaofei Zhu, James F. Stubbins, Abdellatif M. Yacout, Sumit Bhattacharya, [2019] Acta Materialia · DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2018.10.031
	"Adhesion of ZrN and Al 2 O 3 coatings on U metal from first-principles" Sumit Bhattacharya, Abdellatif M. Yacout, Zhi-Gang Mei, [2019] Applied Surface Science · DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2018.12.111 · EID: 2-s2.0-85058526415
	"An exploration of measuring lower-length-scale structures in nuclear materials: Thermal conductivity of U-Mo fuel particle" Manjunath C. Rajagopal, Krishna Valavala, Kun Mo, Zhi-Gang Mei, Sumit Bhattacharya, Laura Jamison, Sanjiv Sinha, Abdellatif M. Yacout, Yinbin Miao, [2019] Journal of Nuclear Materials · DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2019.151797 · EID: 2-s2.0-85072529972
	"First-principles study of fracture toughness enhancement in transition metal nitrides" Sumit Bhattacharya, Abdellatif M. Yacout, Zhi-Gang Mei, [2019] Surface and Coatings Technology · DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2018.10.102 · EID: 2-s2.0-85056194982
	"Nanocrystalline ZrN thin film development via atomic layer deposition for U-Mo powder" Laura Jamison, David N. Seidman, Walid Mohamed, Y. Bei, Michael J. Pellin, Abdellatif M. Yacout, Sumit Bhattacharya, [2019] Journal of Nuclear Materials · DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2019.151770 · EID: 2-s2.0-85072331613
	"Nano-crystallization in UO2 irradiated by high-energy heavy ions" [2018] Transactions of the American Nuclear Society · EID: 2-s2.0-85062970981
	"Nano-crystallization induced by high-energy heavy ion irradiation in UO2" Tiankai Yao, Jie Lian, Shaofei Zhu, Sumit Bhattacharya, Aaron Oaks, Abdellatif M. Yacout, Kun Mo, Yinbin Miao, [2018] Scripta Materialia · DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2018.04.006 · EID: 2-s2.0-85046693678
	"Nano-crystallization induced by high-energy heavy ion irradiation in UO2" Tiankai Yao, Jie Lian, Shaofei Zhu, Sumit Bhattacharya, Aaron Oaks, Abdellatif M. Yacout, Kun Mo, Yinbin Miao, [2018] Scripta Materialia · DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2018.04.006
	"Cross section TEM characterization of high-energy-Xe-irradiated U-Mo" L. Jamison, Y. Miao, S. Bhattacharya, G.L. Hofman, A.M. Yacout, B. Ye, [2017] Journal of Nuclear Materials · DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.03.011 · EID: 2-s2.0-85015638396
	"In situ synchrotron investigation of grain growth behavior of nano-grained UO2" Tiankai Yao, Jie Lian, Jun-Sang Park, Jonathan Almer, Sumit Bhattacharya, Abdellatif M. Yacout, Kun Mo, Yinbin Miao, [2017] Scripta Materialia · DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2016.12.025 · EID: 2-s2.0-85008894551
	"In situ synchrotron investigation of grain growth behavior of nano-grained UO2" Tiankai Yao, Jie Lian, Jun-Sang Park, Jonathan Almer, Sumit Bhattacharya, Abdellatif M. Yacout, Kun Mo, Yinbin Miao, [2017] Scripta Materialia · DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2016.12.025
	"In-situ TEM ion irradiation investigations on U3Si2 at LWR temperatures" Jason Harp, Kun Mo, Sumit Bhattacharya, Peter Baldo, Abdellatif M. Yacout, Yinbin Miao, [2017] Journal of Nuclear Materials · DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.11.020 · EID: 2-s2.0-85005949698
	"Short Communication on "In-situ TEM ion irradiation investigations on U3Si2 at LWR temperatures"" Jason Harp, Kun Mo, Sumit Bhattacharya, Peter Baldo, Abdellatif M. Yacout, Yinbin Miao, [2017] Journal of Nuclear Materials · DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.11.020
	"Microstructure investigations of u3si2 irradiated by heavy ions at LWR temperatures" [2017] Transactions of the American Nuclear Society · EID: 2-s2.0-85033489543
	"Advanced synthesis for enhanced accident tolerance of LWR cladding materials" [2016] Top Fuel 2016: LWR Fuels with Enhanced Safety and Performance · EID: 2-s2.0-85019021588
	"Fabrication of Sn nanostructures by template assisted pulse electrodeposition" S. Bhattacharya, S. Das, K. Das, A. Sharma, [2016] Surface Engineering · DOI: 10.1179/1743294415y.0000000091 · EID: 2-s2.0-84964545733 Pulse electrodeposition method is employed for the synthesis of Sn nanostructures using alumina template. Electrical contacts are made through metallisation of the template bottom with copper and an aluminium foil. The current density is varied from 0.05 to 0.6 A cm^− 2, and a change in nanostructure formation is noticed. The structure and morphology of nanostructures are characterised by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. It is observed that at a lower current density (0.05 A cm^− 2), nanorods (mean diameter 186 nm) are prominent. As the current density is further increased to 0.4 A cm^− 2, the nanorods increase in diameter (∼216 nm), while at a higher current density of 0.6 A cm^− 2, nanorods (mean diameter 158), nanoribbons (mean diameter 126 nm) as well as nanowires (∼44 nm) are produced. The obtained Sn nanostructures are polycrystalline in nature and can be scaled up to industrial level.
	"High-energy synchrotron study of in-pile-irradiated U-Mo fuels" Kun Mo, Bei Ye, Laura Jamison, Zhi-Gang Mei, Jian Gan, Brandon Miller, James Madden, Jun-Sang Park, Jonathan Almer, Sumit Bhattacharya, Yeon Soo Kim, Gerard L. Hofman, Abdellatif M. Yacout, Yinbin Miao, [2016] Scripta Materialia · DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2015.12.019 · EID: 2-s2.0-84954199688
	"MeV per nucleon ion irradiation of nuclear materials with high energy synchrotron X-ray characterization" Abdellatif M. Yacout, Kun Mo, Jonathan Almer, S. Bhattacharya, Walid Mohamed, D. Seidman, Bei Ye, D. Yun, Ruqing Xu, Shaofei Zhu, M.J. Pellin, [2016] Journal of Nuclear Materials · DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.01.004 · EID: 2-s2.0-84960439079
	"Synthesis and Properties of Pulse Electrodeposited Lead-Free Tin-Based Sn/ZrSiO4 Nanocomposite Coatings" Ashutosh Sharma, Siddhartha Das, Karabi Das, Sumit Bhattacharya, [2016] Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A: Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science · DOI: 10.1007/s11661-015-3313-6 · EID: 2-s2.0-84957435548
	"Synthesis and Properties of Pulse Electrodeposited Lead-Free Tin-Based Sn/ZrSiO₄ Nanocomposite Coatings" Ashutosh Sharma, Siddhartha Das, Karabi Das, Sumit Bhattacharya, [2016] Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A · DOI: 10.1007/s11661-015-3313-6
	"Irradiation behavior study of U-Mo/Al dispersion fuel with high energy Xe" S. Bhattacharya, K. Mo, D. Yun, W. Mohamed, M. Pellin, J. Fortner, Y.S. Kim, G.L. Hofman, A.M. Yacout, T. Wiencek, S. Van den Berghe, A. Leenaers, B. Ye, [2015] Journal of Nuclear Materials · DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2015.04.051 · EID: 2-s2.0-84929207469
	"A study on the effect of pulse electrodeposition parameters on the morphology of pure tin coatings" Sumit Bhattacharya, Siddhartha Das, Karabi Das, Ashutosh Sharma, [2014] Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A: Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science · DOI: 10.1007/s11661-014-2389-8 · EID: 2-s2.0-84906784669
	"Influence of current density on surface morphology and properties of pulse plated tin films from citrate electrolyte" Sumit Bhattacharya, Siddhartha Das, Karabi Das, Ashutosh Sharma, [2014] Applied Surface Science · DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2013.11.088 · EID: 2-s2.0-84890997198
	"Development of lead free pulse electrodeposited tin based composite solder coating reinforced with ex situ cerium oxide nanoparticles" Sumit Bhattacharya, Siddhartha Das, H.-J. Fecht, Karabi Das, Ashutosh Sharma, [2013] Journal of Alloys and Compounds · DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.06.023 · EID: 2-s2.0-84879829445
	"Fabrication of Sn-Ag/CeO2 electro-composite solder by pulse electrodeposition" Sumit Bhattacharya, Siddhartha Das, Karabi Das, Ashutosh Sharma, [2013] Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A: Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science · DOI: 10.1007/s11661-013-1894-5 · EID: 2-s2.0-84887133264
	"Fabrication of Sn-Ag/CeO₂ Electro-Composite Solder by Pulse Electrodeposition" Sumit Bhattacharya, Siddhartha Das, Karabi Das, Ashutosh Sharma, [2013] Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A · DOI: 10.1007/s11661-013-1894-5
	"Functional electrical stimulation on improving foot drop gait in poststroke rehabilitation: A review of its technology and clinical efficacy" S. D. Bhattacharya, M. Manjunatha, Sukanta K. Sabut, [2013] Critical Reviews in Biomedical Engineering · DOI: 10.1615/critrevbiomedeng.2013007621 · EID: 2-s2.0-84890866728
	"Influence of current density on microstructure of pulse electrodeposited tin coatings" Sumit Bhattacharya, Ranjan Sen, B.S.B. Reddy, H.-J. Fecht, Karabi Das, Siddhartha Das, Ashutosh Sharma, [2012] Materials Characterization · DOI: 10.1016/j.matchar.2012.03.002 · EID: 2-s2.0-84860629304
	"Synthesis of Nanocrystalline Cerium Oxide by both Solid and Liquid Processing Routes" [2011] Nanotechnology and Biosensors
	"Effect of surfactant on the co-electrodeposition of the nano-sized ceria particle in the nickel matrix" Sumit Bhattacharya, Siddhartha Das, Karabi Das, Ranjan Sen, [2010] Journal of Alloys and Compounds · DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2009.09.142 · EID: 2-s2.0-70649098221
	"Friction and wear behavior of Cu-CeO2 nanocomposite coatings synthesized by pulsed electrodeposition" Sumit Bhattacharya, Karabi Das, Siddhartha Das, Venu Mangam, [2010] Surface and Coatings Technology · DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2010.07.119 · EID: 2-s2.0-77956650792
	"Friction and wear behavior of Cu-CeO₂ nanocomposite coatings synthesized by pulsed electrodeposition" Sumit Bhattacharya, Karabi Das, Siddhartha Das, Venu Mangam, [2010] Surface and Coatings Technology · DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2010.07.119
	"Synthesis and characterization of pulse co-electrodeposited nickel/ceria nanocomposites" Ashutosh Sharma, Sumit Bhattacharya, Siddhartha Das, Karabi Das, Ranjan Sen, [2010] Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology · DOI: 10.1166/jnn.2010.2210 · EID: 2-s2.0-79952456055
	"Pulsed excimer laser ablation growth and characterization of Ba(Sn0.1Ti0.9)O3 thin films" P Victor, A Laha, S Bhattacharya, S.B Krupanidhi, G Agarwal, A.K Singh, S Halder, [2002] Solid State Communications · DOI: 10.1016/s0038-1098(02)00017-0 · EID: 2-s2.0-0037154672
Source: ORCID/CrossRef using DOI

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Sumit Bhattacharya

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