A novel molten-salt electrochemical cell for investigatingthe reduction of uranium dioxide to uranium metal by lithium using in situ synchrotron radiation

LD Brown, R Abdulaziz, R Jervis, V Bharath, TJ Mason, R. C. Atwood, C Reinhard, Leigh D. Connor, Douglas Inman, DJL Brett, P.R. Shearing

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A novel electrochemical cell has been designed and built to allow for in situ energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction measurements to be made during reduction of UO2 to U metal in LiCl–KCl at 500°C. The electrochemical cell contains a recessed well at the bottom of the cell into which the working electrode sits, reducing the beam path for the X-rays through the molten-salt and maximizing the signal-to-noise ratio from the sample. Lithium metal was electrodeposited onto the UO2 working electrode by exposing the working electrode to more negative potentials than the Li deposition potential of the LiCl–KCl eutectic electrolyte. The Li metal acts as a reducing agent for the chemical reduction of UO2 to U, which appears to proceed to completion. All phases were fitted using Le Bail refinement. The cell is expected to be widely applicable to many studies involving molten-salt systems.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)439-444
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Synchrotron Radiation
Volume24
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • cell design
  • energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction
  • molten-salt reduction
  • spent fuel reprocessing

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