Studying radiation chemistry and electronic structure of materials at scales smaller than nanometers, scientists prepared samples of clay in ultra-thin layers. Working at the TRIUMF particle accelerator, they bombarded the samples with antimatter subatomic particles. They found their system is a proven tool for radiation studies of material to be used to store nuclear waste — important for Canadian nuclear industry looking to build its first geological repository.

Published recently in Nature Scientific Reports, the study involved the first-ever use of antimatter to investigate processes connected to potential long-term storage of waste from nuclear reactors, says lead author and chemistry professor Khashayar Ghandi.

The research may ultimately help in designing safer underground vaults for permanent storage of radioactive waste, including waste from Ontario’s nuclear power plants. Those installations produce almost two-thirds of the province’s energy needs.

«Nuclear energy provides a clean source of electricity. However, there is a need to deal with the nuclear waste from reactors that generate electricity,» said Ghandi.

Currently, used nuclear fuel bundles — still highly radioactive — are held in vaults in temporary storage.

Long-term, experts aim to use deep geological repositories to permanently entomb the material. Buried in rock formations hundreds of metres underground, the fuel containers would be held in engineered and natural barriers such as clays to shield people and the environment from radiation.

Story Source: Materials provided by University of Guelph. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.