Status of development of functional materials with perspective on beyond-ITER

Abstract Functional materials should play an important role not only in ITER but also in fusion machines beyond ITER, though it is occasionally claimed that future fusion plants should have much more simple structures and they should be free from auxiliary systems such as diagnostics. Studies on test blanket modules (TBM) clearly show the importance of functional materials there. The paper will review the present status of studies and developments of functional ceramics for nuclear fusion applications, with a perspective on their application in electric-power generating fusion power plant, namely DEMO.