Nuclear fuel pebble and method of manufacturing the same

A nuclear fuel element formed by a method comprising:

• forming a base portion of the nuclear fuel element by depositing a powdered matrix material on a substrate, the powdered matrix material comprising a mixture of a graphite material and a fibrous material;
• depositing particles on the base portion in a predetermined pattern to form a first particle layer, by controlling the position of each particle in the first particle layer;
• depositing the powdered matrix material on the first particle layer to form a first matrix layer;
• depositing particles on the first matrix layer in a predetermined pattern to form a second particle layer, by controlling the position of each particle in the second particle layer;
• depositing the powdered matrix material on the second particle layer to form a second matrix layer;
• and
• forming a cap portion of the nuclear fuel element by depositing the matrix material comprising a mixture of a graphite material and a fibrous material on a particle layer,
• wherein the particles comprise nuclear fuel particles.