Understanding nuclear fuel forms and structures

Nuclear fuels experience some of the harshest operating conditions which greatly influence their microstructure evolution during use. It is necessary to understand the property and microstructure changes of fuel in order to evaluate their end-of-life behavior which is critical for the safe operation of a nuclear reactor. Evaluating these materials requires the use of novel materials characterization techniques such as advanced electron microscopy, small-scale mechanical testing, and localized pump probe experiments, allowing for novel insights into nuclear fuel systems. In this special issue, several of these advanced techniques are used to provide a wealth of new information on nuclear fuels.