Following the electroreduction of uranium dioxide to uranium in LiCl-KCl eutectic in situ using synchrotron radiation

LD Brown, R Abdulaziz, R Jervis, VJ Bharath, R. C. Atwood, C Reinhard, Leigh D. Connor, SJR Simons, Douglas Inman, DJL Brett, PR Shearing

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The electrochemical reduction of uranium dioxide to metallic uranium has been investigated in lithium chloride–potassium chloride eutectic molten salt. Laboratory based electrochemical studies have been coupled with in situ energy dispersive X-ray diffraction, for the first time, to deduce the reduction pathway. No intermediate phases were identified using the X-ray diffraction before, during or after electroreduction to form α-uranium. This suggests that the electrochemical reduction occurs via a single, 4-electron-step, process. The rate of formation of α-uranium is seen to decrease during electrolysis and could be a result of a build-up of oxygen anions in the molten salt. Slow transport of O2− ions away from the UO2 working electrode could impede the electrochemical reduction.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)256-262
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Nuclear Materials
Volume464
Early online date28 Apr 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2015
Externally publishedYes

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