nuclear fuels
Fissile energy sources
Nuclear fuels are materials that release energy through nuclear reactions, typically fission or fusion.
Uranium and plutonium are the most common, used in reactors and weapons.
The fuel exists in various forms—pellets, rods, enriched compounds: The plant needs to replace its nuclear fuel every few years.
Unlike fossil fuels, nuclear fuels produce no carbon emissions during operation but generate radioactive waste.
- uraniumElement ninety-two
- uranium enrichmentRaising fissile isotope proportion
- tritiumHydrogen's radioactive isotope
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
- fissionNuclear breakup releasing energy
chain reaction · radioactive · enrichment · atomic energy · criticality · actinide · fusion · pellets · rods · deuterium · reactor core · weapons grade · half-life · control rods · centrifuge · yellowcake · alpha decay · beta decay