Evolution of chemistry programme at DAE

Chemistry is omnipresent in nuclear energy programmes all over the world. From the isolation and fabrication of fuel to the development of non-fuel materials and important nuclear processes, chemistry has played a crucial role. This article outlines the remarkable contri­bution that chemistry has made to the development of India’s nuclear science programme. After a general introduction that deals with the inception and diversification of chemistry in the Department of Atomic Energy and some initial milestone achievements, a few notable contributions at BARC and IGCAR have been discussed in detail. These include the contribution of chemistry towards the front-end and back-end of the nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear safety, radiation chemistry and chemical innovations catering to the needs of society. Each sub-section also includes possible future developments in the fields necessary for a sustainable nuclear energy programme.