Dr. Afra Fernandez Zuvich
Co-Founder, RDI Senior Consultant
Afra joined the National Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina (CNEA) in 2010, and started a CNEA fellowship at Bariloche Atomic Centre. She has been working as a researcher ever since.
Her expertise is in the design, synthesis, and characterization of ceramic and glassy materials with the aim of optimizing certain properties that improve their performance, such as micro-nano structure, chemical reactivity, ionic conductivity, etc.
Since 2017, she has been working on the research and development of engineered materials such as uranium oxide nuclear fuel, simulated spent fuel and radioactive waste within the framework of her PhD. thesis.
The application areas of the engineered materials designed, synthesized, sintered, and characterized have been ceramic oxides for clean energy applications such as solid oxide fuel cells and nuclear applications such as uranium oxide nuclear fuel materials for small modular reactors e.g. CAREM–25 and NuScale as well as Heavy or Light Water Power Reactors and materials for advanced Water cooled power reactor accident tolerant fuels (ATFs).
Some glassy materials have been proposed for oncological treatments and for immobilizing high-level radioactive waste from spent fuel reprocessing.
Selected Publications
International Journals
“Characterization of Alumina Microspheres Produced by Combustion Torch Remelting” A. Fernandez Zuvich, A. Soldati, A.M. Bevilacqua, N. Silin. Latin American Applied Research (2023). https://laar.plapiqui.edu.ar/OJS/index.php/laar/Accepted_papers.
“One step low temperature thermochemical process in air at atmospheric pressure to denitrate a simulated HLLW without or with addition of an aluminoborosilicate glass powder”, 2021, Austria, https://conferences.iaea.org/event/219/papers/19536/
“Synthesis and characterization of Gd2O3 doped UO2 nanoparticles. ELSEVIER - Journal of Nuclear Materials, 2016, Pages: 436 - 446.
“Time Resolved DXAS Study on Micro and Nano NiO/Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 Cermets for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells”, ECS Transactions, 2016, 72 (7), páginas: 215-224. 10.1149/07207.0215ecst ©. The Electrochemical Society.
"Electronic and Morphological Characterization of Nanostructured Ni-doped (Ce,Gd)O 2-d Anodes for IT-SOFCs". ECS Transactions. 2014, 64 (2), Pages: 233-240. 10.1149/06402.0233ecst ©. The Electrochemical Society.
“Characterization of (La,Sr)(Ti,Co)O 3 Oxides for symmetrical Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electrodes” ECS Transactions. 2013, 58, pages: 185-193.
“Preparation and Characterization of Anodes for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells”, 2012. ELSEVIER-Procedia Materials Science (www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia), pages: 628-635.
International & Interregional Conferences
XLVIII Reunión anual de la Asociación Argentina de Tecnología Nuclear.
Argentina. Noviembre 2024 -“Absorbente Neutrónico Multiple optimizado para conjunto combustible homogéneo del SMR NuScale”. A. Fernandez Zuvich, et al.
“Modelado y Simulación de Materiales Combustibles Tolerantes a Accidentes (ATFs)” G. Baigorria, A. Fernandez Zuvich, and A.M. Bevilacqua.
Technical Meeting on Advances in Fuel Design, Manufacturing and Examinations for Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors. Argentina, 2024.
“Reactivity and spent fuel source terms for Embalse NPP advanced fuel designs with natural uranium, slightly enriched uranium (SEU), and SEU with multiple burnable absorbers”. A. Fernandez Zuvich, et al.
“Dancoff factors calculation for different symmetries and fuel materials for Embalse NPP advanced fuel designs” P. Gómiz, A. Fernandez Zuvich, and A.M.Bevilacqua.
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22nd International Congress of Metallurgy and Materials SAM-CONAMET. Argentina, 2024.
“Síntesis por DTQ y Caracterización de Materiales ATFs nanoparticulados simulados (TCD Synthesis and Characterisation of Simulated Nanoparticulate ATFs Materials)”. Baigorria, G.; Bevilacqua, A.; Ilarri, S.; Fernandez Zuvich, A.
XLVII Reunión anual de la Asociación Argentina de Tecnología Nuclear (AATN). Argentina, 2023.
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“Desnitración Termoquímica: Una Ruta de Síntesis Sustentable para la producción de Combustibles Nucleares para Reactores de Potencia”. A. Fernandez Zuvich, A.M. Bevilacqua.
“Análisis Microestructural y Modelado Neutrónico de Combustibles Tolerantes a Accidentes” A. Fernandez Zuvich, S. Ilarri, A.M. Bevilacqua.
“Innovación tecnológica en la producción de UO2: Vía DTQ”. M.L. Zamora, N. Coppari, M. Iglesia y A. Fernandez Zuvich.
IAEA Interregional Workshop on Technology Development and Applications of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). China, 2023.
“Technical developments on fuel assembly homogenisation and spent fuel minimisation for in-land water cooled and moderated SMRs”. Bevilacqua, A.M. y Fernandez Zuvich, A.
8vo Encuentro de Jóvenes InvestigadoTes en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (JIM). Argentina, 2023.
“Desarrollo y Optimización de Síntesis Sol Gel, y Modelado Neutrónico de Materiales Combustibles con Absorbentes Quemables” A. Fernandez Zuvich, A.M. Bevilacqua.
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IAEA Interregional Training Course on Fuel Design Optimization and Fuel Cycle Options for SMRs. Russian Federation, 2022.
“Nuclear Fuel for Water-cooled SMRs. CAREM: The Argentine Small Modular Reactor"; A.M. Bevilacqua, A. Fernandez Zuvich.
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107th Meeting of the Argentine Physical Association. Argentina, 2022 "Estudio de las propiedades morfológicas, estructurales y magnéticas de óxidos mixtos submicrónicos de Ce 1−x Gd x O 2−d (x=0.1-0.9) fabricados por un método de denitración termoquímica"; ("Study of the morphological, structural and magnetic properties of submicron Ce1-xGdxO2-y (x=0.1-0.9) mixed oxides prepared by a thermochemical denitration method"). Tobia D, Fernandez Zuvich
A, Bevilacqua A M, Castro F J, Winkler E L.
International Conference on Radioactive Waste Management: Solutions for a Sustainable Future. Austria, 2021.
"Process in air at atmospheric pressure to denitrate a simulated HLLW without or with addition of a luminoborosilicate glass powder" Fernandez Zuvich, A. Bevilacqua, S. Pérez Fornells.