Center for Thermal Energy Transport under Irradiation (TETI)

Publications

Our mission is to provide the foundational work necessary to accurately model and ultimately control electron- and phonon-mediated thermal transport in 5f-electron materials in extreme irradiation environments.

Welcome

To efficiently capture the energy of the nuclear bond, advanced nuclear reactor concepts aim to use fuels that must withstand unprecedented temperature and radiation extremes. In these advanced fuels, thermal energy transport under irradiation is directly related to reactor efficiency and safety, and is arguably one of the most important material properties.

The Center for Thermal Energy Transport under Irradiation (TETI) brings together an internationally recognized, multi-institutional team of experimentalists and computational materials theorists to develop a comprehensive, atom-to-mesoscale understanding of phonon and electron transport in advanced nuclear fuels.

Tailored Properties in Advances Nuclear Fuels

First principles understanding of electron and phonon transport in 5f electron materials in extrememe irradiation environment. 

Scientific graphic showing a colorful heatmap with wave-like patterns and an inset diagram illustrating a localized point of energy or measurement.
Scientific graphic showing a particle distribution image next to a line graph with multiple plotted curves.
Scientific graphic showing two plots: a temperature‑dependent line chart and a density‑of‑states graph with multiple curves.

Latest News and Events

  • April 26 - May 1, 2026

2026 MRS Spring Meeting & Exhibit

  • September 28 - October 1, 2025

TMS Fall Meeting 2025 at MS&T

  • March 15-19, 2026

TMS 2026 Annual Meeting & Exhibition

Research Highlight

Suppressed thermal conductivity in hyperstoichiometric uranium dioxide controlled by phonon lifetimes

Diagrams measuring thermal conductivity

Thermal transport in nuclear fuels used for nuclear energy applications is directly tied to performance and reliability. Uranium dioxide (UO2), one of the most important nuclear fuels, can accumulate excess oxygen atoms as interstitial defects, which significantly impacts thermal transport properties.

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U.S Department of Energy Office of Science and Technology
Idaho National Laboratory
Ohio State University
University of Wisconsin - Madison
PennState University
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Air Force Research Laboratory
Columbia University