TY - JOUR
T1 - Following the electroreduction of uranium dioxide to uranium in LiCl-KCl eutectic in situ using synchrotron radiation
AU - Brown, LD
AU - Abdulaziz, R
AU - Jervis, R
AU - Bharath, VJ
AU - Atwood, R. C.
AU - Reinhard, C
AU - Connor, Leigh D.
AU - Simons, SJR
AU - Inman, Douglas
AU - Brett, DJL
AU - Shearing, PR
PY - 2015/9
Y1 - 2015/9
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
UR - https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=pure_starter&SrcAuth=WosAPI&KeyUT=WOS:000359170700034&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS
U2 - 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2015.04.037
DO - 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2015.04.037
M3 - Article
SN - 0022-3115
VL - 464
SP - 256
EP - 262
JO - Journal of Nuclear Materials
JF - Journal of Nuclear Materials
ER -