Production of H2 by water radiolysis in cement paste under electron irradiation: A joint experimental and theoretical study

Long-term confinement of nuclear waste is one of the main challenges faced by the nuclear industry. Fission products such as Sr-90 and Cs-137, both beta(-) emitters known to induce serious health hazards, represent the largest fraction of nuclear waste. Cement is a good candidate to store them, provided it can resist the effects of irradiation over time. Here, we have investigated the effects of beta(-) decay on cement by performing electron irradiation experiments on different samples. We show that H-2 production in cement, the main effect of water radiolysis, depends strongly on composition and relative humidity. First-principles calculations indicate that the water-rich interlayer regions with Ca2+ ions act as electron traps that promote the formation of H-2. They also show that holes localize in water-rich regions in low Ca content samples and are then able to participate in H-2 production. This work provides new understanding of radiolysis effects in cements.