Photoelectrochemical characterisation of oxides grown on nickel base alloys in primary water of pressurized water reactor

In this thesis, we are interested in semiconducting properties of oxides formed on nickel base alloys. The aim is to demonstrate the effects of hydrogen partial pressure, the nature of the alloy and the surface conditions on the semi-conduction type and the band gap energies. Photoelectrochemical technique was used to characterize the semiconducting properties. Other complementary techniques were also used such as FEG-SEM, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and XPS. Corrosion tests were performed in simulated primary medium (titanium autoclave, temperature 325°C, duration 500 hours). Samples of alloys 600 and 690 of 1 µm diamond polishing were oxidized at P(H2) < 0,01 ; 0,3 et 6,5 bar. The surface conditions concerned only the alloy 600 oxidized at P(H2) = 0,3 bar. We used a new method for fitting energy spectra to obtain the band gap energies. The obtained results show that only the hydrogen pressure affects the semiconducting type of oxides presented by the high energies, it shift from n-type (P(H2) < 0,01 bar) to insulating type (P(H2) = 0,3 and 6,5 bar). An n-type behavior was recorded at low energy whatever the study parameters. Band gaps energies of NiO, Cr2O3 and NiFe2O4 were revealed.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Source https://theses.hal.science/tel-00842998
Author Loucif, Abdelhalim
Maintainer CCSD
Last Updated May 10, 2026, 09:59 (UTC)
Created May 10, 2026, 09:59 (UTC)
Identifier NNT: 2012GRENI033
Language fr
Rights https://about.hal.science/hal-authorisation-v1/
contributor Science et Ingénierie des Matériaux et Procédés (SIMaP) ; Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP)-Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble (INPG)-Institut de Chimie - CNRS Chimie (INC-CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
creator Loucif, Abdelhalim
date 2012-11-20T00:00:00
harvest_object_id d59429a9-fe16-49f5-94aa-24317b56f730
harvest_source_id 3374d638-d20b-4672-ba96-a23232d55657
harvest_source_title test moissonnage SELUNE
metadata_modified 2026-03-31T00:00:00
set_spec type:THESE