CONNECT NM NEUTION – Prof. Iwona Jóźwik

Iwona Jóźwik, PhD

Acronym of the project: NEUTION

Title of the project: Understanding transferability issues between ion- and neutron-irradiated model materials – paving the way to a new generation of radiation-resistant alloys

Prof. Iwona Jóźwik leads the NEUTION project, coordinated by the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) in collaboration with Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) in Germany and the Irène Joliot-Curie Laboratory (IJCLab) in France, a joint research unit of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and Université Paris-Saclay.

The aim of the NEUTION project is to improve and accelerate the evaluation of structural materials intended for use in advanced nuclear reactors. Its main objective is to bridge the gap between ion and neutron irradiation and to increase the reliability of accelerated testing methods based on ion irradiation.

As part of the project, a novel neutron irradiation method using miniaturized samples will be developed for the MARIA research reactor. This approach will enable post-irradiation structural characterization without the need for hot-cell facilities. It will therefore allow direct and systematic comparison of changes caused by neutron and ion irradiation in the same materials and under similar conditions. The method will also make it possible to assess the influence of sample size and geometry on defect evolution. NEUTION will combine neutron- and ion-irradiation experiments with advanced molecular modelling to provide a better understanding of radiation-induced microstructural changes.

Project duration: 01.01.2026 – 31.12.2028



This project has received funding from the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under grant agreement No 857470 and from European Regional Development Fund
via Foundation for Polish Science International Research Agenda PLUS programme grant
No MAB PLUS/2018/8.
Poland
The project is co-financed from the state budget within the framework of the undertaking of the Minister of Science and Higher Education "Support for the activities of Centers of Excellence established under Horizon 2020".

Grant: 5 143 237,70 EUR
Total value: 29 971 365,00 EUR
Date of signing the funding agreement: December 2023

The purpose of the undertaking is to support entities of the higher education and science system that have received funding from the European Union budget in the competition H2020-WIDESPREAD-2018-2020/WIDESPREAD-01-2018-2019: Teaming Phase 2. in the preparation, implementation and updating of activities, maintenance of material resources necessary for carrying out activities, acquisition and modernization of scientific and research apparatus, maintenance and development of personnel potential necessary for the implementation of activities, and dissemination of the results of scientific activities.