Fast ion diffusion, superionic conductivity and phase transitions of the nuclear materials UO2 and Li2O

Lattice dynamics and molecular dynamics studies of the oxides UO2 and Li2O in their normal as well as superionic phases are reported. Lattice dynamics calculations have been carried out using a shell model in the quasiharmonic approximation. The calculated elastic constants, phonon frequencies and specific heat are in good agreement with reported experimental data, which help validate the interatomic potentials required for undertaking molecular dynamics simulations. The calculated free energies reveal high pressure fluorite to cotunnite phase transitions at 70 GPa for UO2 and an anti-fluorite to anticotunnite phase transformation at 25 GPa for Li2O, in agreement with reported experiments. Molecular dynamics studies provide important insights into the mechanisms of diffusion and superionic behaviour at high temperatures. The calculated superionic transition temperature of Li2O is 1000 K, while that of UO2 is 2300 K.