BR21882237 — Development and research of promising composite materials for energy and fuel cycle

Goal of the work: The goal of this project is to develop and study promising composite materials that can be used in various fields of energy and the fuel cycle. The main objective of the project is to create new materials with improved characteristics, such as strength, thermal conductivity, stability under various operating conditions, as well as reducing production costs and ensuring environmental safety.

Relevance of the work: The relevance of the project for the development and research of promising composite materials for energy and the fuel cycle is confirmed by the following factors: With increasing energy consumption and growing interest in environmentally friendly energy sources, there is a need for the development of new materials that can ensure the efficient use of various energy sources, including renewable sources, nuclear energy and traditional fuels. The development of new composite materials will improve the energy efficiency and safety of energy systems and installations. This is important for reducing production and operating costs, as well as reducing the risks of accidents. Given society's growing concerns about environmental issues and sustainable development, the development of environmentally friendly materials for the energy and fuel cycle is becoming a priority. In light of these factors, the development and research of promising composite materials for energy and the fuel cycle is a relevant and strategically important area of scientific research.

Scientific supervisor: Doctor of Ph.D., Research Professor, Kenzhina Inesh

Results obtained:  The conducted research investigated hydrogen interaction processes with niobium beryllides, revealing differences in their ability to absorb and retain hydrogen isotopes. New experimental data on lithium-containing materials were obtained, and models of their interaction with gaseous environments were developed. Structural, mechanical, and thermophysical properties of ZrO₂-based composite ceramics with various additives were studied, along with the mechanisms of their strengthening. The influence of phase composition, dislocation density, and interphase boundaries on resistance to thermal and radiation effects was established. It was shown that modification with stabilizing dopants significantly improves the performance characteristics of ceramics. The results are important for the development of advanced materials for hydrogen and fusion energy applications.

List of publications with links to them

1. Kulsartov T., Zaurbekova Z., Kenzhin Y., Kenzhina I., Bochkov V., Askerbekov S., Ponkratov Y., Yelishenkov A., Udartsev S. Study of the mechanisms of change in hydride phases in zirconium beryllide during its linear heating // Materials Research Express. – 2024. – Vol. 11. – 106516. https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/ad8412
2. Kulsartov T., Kenzhina I., Ponkratov Yu., Gordienko Yu., Zaurbekova Zh., Samarkhanov K., Askerbekov S., Kenzhin Ye., Yelishenkov A. Investigation of the interaction of deuterium with Sn73Li27 tin-lithium alloy // Nuclear Materials and Energy. – 2024. – Vol. 41. – 101825. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nme.2024.101825
3. Kenzhina I. E., Kozlovskiy A. L., Tolenova A., Begentayev M., Askerbekov S. The connection between the accumulation of structural defects caused by proton irradiation and the destruction of the near-surface layer of Li4SiO4–Li2TiO3 ceramics // Optical Materials: X. – 2024. – Vol. 24. – 100367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omx.2024.100367
4. Kulsartov T., Zaurbekova Zh., Knitter R., Leys J., Shaimerdenov A., Chikhray Y., Askerbekov S., Kenzhina I., Yelishenkov A. Estimation of tritium transfer parameters in biphasic lithium ceramic based on the results of reactor irradiation experiments // Fusion Engineering and Design. – 2025. – Vol. 219. – 115282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2025.115282
5. Kenzhina I. E., Kozlovskiy A. L., Begentayev M., Blynskiy P., Tolenova A., Popov A. I. Study of Phase Transformations in ZrO2 Ceramics Stabilized by Y2O3 and Their Role in Changing Strength Characteristics and Heat Resistance // Sustainability. – 2025. – Vol. 17, No. 10. – 4284. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104284
6. Kulsartov T., Kenzhina I., Kenzhin Y., Chikhray Y., Shaimerdenov A., Zaurbekova Z., Yelishenkov A., Samarkhanov K., Begentayev M., Askerbekov S., Tolenova A. Simulation of tritium release processes from lithium ceramics under reactor irradiation conditions with varying reactor power // Journal of Nuclear Materials. – 2025. – Vol. 615. – 155979. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.155979
7. Kenzhina I. E., Kozlovskiy A. L., Volodina N. O., Shakirzyanov R. I., Garanin Y. A., Maznykh S. A., Makhanov K. M., Tolenova A. U., Begentayev M., Askerbekov S. K., Blynskiy P. A., Zaurbekova Z. A. Low-temperature sintering of zirconia-based ceramic composites for capacitor applications // Ceramics International. – 2025. – Vol. 51 (21). – P. 33428–33440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.05.075
8. Udartsev S., Kenzhina I. E., Kulsartov T., Samarkhanov K., Zaurbekova Z., Ponkratov Y., Yelishenkov A., Begentayev M., Askerbekov S., Tolenova A., Kylyshkanov M., Podoinikov M., Kaynazarova A., Obgolts O. Phase Evolution and Synthesis of Be12Nb Intermetallic Compound in the 800–1300 °C Temperature Range // Materials. – 2025. – Vol. 18 (12). – 2915. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18122915
9. Kenzhina I. E., Kozlovskiy A. L., Tolenova A. U., Askerbekov S. K. Радиациялық әсерден туындаған ZrO2 керамикасындағы полиморфты түрлендірулер // Монография. – Алматы: Қ.И. Сәтбаев атындағы ҚазҰТЗУ, 2025.
10. Kulsartov T. V., Zaurbekova Zh. A., Kenzhina I. E., Tolenova A. U. Бериллийден тритийдің түзілу және бөліну процестерін зерттеу // Монография. – Алматы: Қ.И. Сәтбаев атындағы ҚазҰТЗУ, 2025.
11. Kenzhina I. E., Kozlovskiy A. L., Tolenova A. U., Askerbekov S. K., Blynskiy P. A. Ядролық энергетика үшін жаңа буын құрылымдық материалдарындағы радиациялық зақымдану механизмдерін зерттеу // Монография. – Алматы: Қ.И. Сәтбаев атындағы ҚазҰТЗУ, 2025.
12. Kenzhina I. E., Kulsartov T. V., Zaurbekova Zh. A., Gordienko Yu. N., Ponkratov Yu. V., Yelishenkov A. B. Устройство для изготовления исследовательских образцов свинцово-литиевой эвтектики : полезная модель №9908. – Опубл. 20.12.2024.
13. Kulsartov T. V., Kenzhina I. E., Zaurbekova Zh. A., Gordienko Yu. N., Ponkratov Yu. V., Yelishenkov A. B. Ампульное устройство для изготовления образцов галлий-литиевого сплава : полезная модель №9956. – Опубл. 20.12.2024.
14. Kenzhina I. E., Kulsartov T. V., Zaurbekova Zh. A., Gordienko Yu. N., Ponkratov Yu. V., Yelishenkov A. B. Устройство для коррозионных испытаний : полезная модель №9958. – Опубл. 20.12.2024.
15. Kenzhina I. E., Ponkratov Yu. V., Kulsartov T. V., Zaurbekova Zh. A., Gordienko Yu. N., Yelishenkov A. B. Устройство для комплексной очистки лития : полезная модель №10667. – Опубл. 05.06.2025.
16. Ponkratov Yu. V., Kenzhina I. E., Kulsartov T. V., Zaurbekova Zh. A., Gordienko Yu. N., Yelishenkov A. B. Способ активации образцов интерметаллида Be2Zr : полезная модель №10469. – Опубл. 25.04.2025.
17. Kenzhina I. E., Kozlovskiy A. L., Tolenova A. U. Изучение влияния размерных эффектов в xSi3N4–(1-x)ZrO2 керамиках // Вестник КазНТУ. Серия физическая. – 2024. – Т. 88, № 1. – С. 49–56. https://doi.org/10.26577/RCPh.2024v88i1a07
18. Kenzhina I., Kozlovskiy A., Blynskiy P., Tolenova A. Effect of dislocation density-associated strengthening factors on the thermal stability of composite ceramics // Physical Sciences and Technology. – 2024. – Vol. 11, No. 1–2. – P. 23–31. https://doi.org/10.26577/phst2024v11i1a3
19. Kozlovskiy A. L. Study of the influence of structural modification of ZrO2 ceramics on resistance to hydrogen absorption and gas swelling processes // International Journal of Mathematics and Physics. – 2024. – Vol. 15, No. 2. – P. 49–57. https://doi.org/10.26577/ijmph.2024v15i2b6
20. Kenzhina I. Study of phase formation mechanisms in composite xSi3N4 – (1-x)ZrO2 ceramics // International Journal of Mathematics and Physics. – 2024. – Vol. 15, No. 2. – P. 23–33. https://doi.org/10.26577/ijmph.2024v15i2b3
21. Samarkhanov K., Askerbekov S. Effect of Ca dopant concentration on the change in properties of ZrO2 ceramics // Physical Sciences and Technology. – 2024. – Vol. 11, No. 3–4. – P. 29–38. https://doi.org/10.26577/phst2024v11i2b04
22. Kozlovskiy A. L., Kabiev M. B., Kenzhina I. E., Tolenova A. U. Изучение механизмов структурных повреждений стабилизированных керамик на основе цирконатов при высокотемпературном облучении // Вестник НЯЦ РК. – 2024. – Т. 4. – С. 153–163. https://doi.org/10.52676/1729-7885-2024-4-153-163
23. Kozlovskiy A. L., Azambaev S. B., Abshukirova A. M. Изучение влияния вариации фазового состава композитных керамик на устойчивость к радиационным повреждениям // Вестник НЯЦ РК. – 2024. – Т. 4. – С. 164–173. https://doi.org/10.52676/1729-7885-2024-4-164-173
24. Kozlovskiy A. L., Kabiev M. B., Kenzhina I. E., Tolenova A. U. Использование стабилизирующих добавок для направленной модификации и упрочнения Nd2Zr2O7 керамик // Вестник НЯЦ РК. – 2024. – Т. 4. – С. 119–127. https://doi.org/10.52676/1729-7885-2024-4-119-127
25. Kenzhina I. E., Kulsartov T. V., Ponkratov Yu. V., Tolenova A. U., Chikhray Ye. V., Kozlovskiy A. L., Zaurbekova Zh. A., Yelishenkov A. B., Askerbekov S. K. Investigation of tin-lithium alloy behavior in high-temperature hydrogen isotope environments: sorption and desorption analysis // Вестник Евразийского национального университета им. Л. Н. Гумилева. Серия: Физика. Астрономия. – 2025. – Т. 1 (150). – С. 162–185. https://doi.org/10.32523/2616-6836-2025-150-1-162-185
26. Kozlovskiy A. L., Azambaev S. B., Kenzhina I. E., Tolenova A. U. Исследования влияния температурных факторов на скорость накопления структурных повреждений в композитных керамиках // Вестник НЯЦ РК. – 2025. – Т. 1. – С. 121–131. https://doi.org/10.52676/1729-7885-2025-1-121-131
27. Kenzhina I. E., Tolenova A. U., Kozlovskiy A. L. Determination of the effect of size factor and phase composition in lithium-containing ceramics on resistance to external mechanical and thermal influences // Вестник НЯЦ РК. – 2025. – Т. 2. – С. 37–50. https://doi.org/10.52676/1729-7885-2025-2-37-50
28. Kenzhina I., Kabiyev M., Kozlovskiy A., Begentayev M., Tolenova A., Blynskiy P. Study of Diffusion Expansion of Damaged Layer in Nd2Zr2O7 Ceramics Under High-Temperature Irradiation // Fusion Science and Technology. – 2025. – P. 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2025.2478774