Possible Applications of Nanomaterials for Nuclear Fusion Devices

Conditions of nuclear fusion and nuclear fusion devices were described, and some possible applications of nanomaterials for nuclear fusion devices were presented in the present article. Muon-catalyzed fusion is one of methods for nuclear fusion to cause even at room temperature or lower, and protons or heavy ions with huge energy are irradiated to metals such as beryllium or copper, which results in emission of negative or positive charged muons from the metals. An experiment using a pyroelectric power source using lithium tantalite crystal was also reported to achieve nuclear fusion in a desktop-like device. Hydrogen storage is also important for the fusion devices, and the possibility of hydrogen storage in hydrogen storage metallic alloys was studied by diffusion calculation and potential calculation of deuterium fusion. Enhancement of deuterium diffusion in the Pd alloys would be one of the key points for energy materials. Carbon(C)/copper(Cu)-based composite materials with high thermal conductivity and good stability at high temperatures were also developed by adding a small amount of titanium, which has a low enthalpy of alloy formation with C and Cu. These carbon-based materials could be a candidate material for the plasma facing components of fusion devices.