Advances in Molten Salt Electrochemistry towards Future Energy Systems

A molecular dynamics simulation model for an electroactive interface in which a metallic electrode is maintained at a preset electrical potential is described. The model, based on earlier work of Siepmann and Sprik [J. Chem. Phys. 102, 511 (1995)], uses variable charges whose magnitudes are adjusted on-the-fly according to a variational procedure to maintain the constant potential condition. As such, the model also allows for the polarization of the electrode by the electrolyte, sometimes described by the introduction of image charges. The model has been implemented in a description of an electrochemical cell as a pair of parallel planar electrodes separated by the electrolyte using a two-dimensional Ewald summation method. The method has been applied to examine the interfacial structure in two ionic liquids, consisting of binary mixtures of molten salts, chosen to exemplify the influences of dissimilar cation size and charge. The stronger coordination of the smaller and more highly charged cations by the anions prevents them from approaching even the negatively charged electrode closely. This has consequences for the capacitance of the electrode and will also have an impact on the rates of electron transfer processes. The calculated capacitances exhibit qualitatively the same dependence on the applied potential as has been observed in experimental studies.

show abstract

Electrochemical Reactions of Uranium Trichloride on a Graphene Surface in LiCl-KCl Molten Salt

Kim

Bae

Park

et al. 2014

Electrochemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The electrochemcal reactions of uranium trichloride on the surfaces of dimensionally very dissimilar carbon-based materials such as glassy carbon (GC) and graphene in LiCl-KCl eutectic melt were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cathodic scanning of CV displayed that the Li intercalation reaction into the GC electrode governs at the potential of approximately −1.45 V vs. Ag|Ag + where the electrodeposition reaction of uranium may occur. On the other hand, the graphene electrode presented electrodeposition current of the uranium without interference at −1.45 V vs. Ag|Ag + because the Li intercalation reaction was extensively diminished on the very thin graphene film. In addition, it was successful to measure the electrodeposition current of gadolinium at more positive than −2.1 V without the interference of the Li intercalation into the graphene substrate. Consequently, the significant reduction of the Li intercalation reaction on the nanometer thick carbon electrode extensively expands the electrochemical potential window of the carbon-based electrode with respect to the bulk carbon electrode in LiCl-KCl melt, emphasizing that the graphene has a great potential as a cathode electrode in high temperature molten salt electrolytes.

show abstract

Advances in Molten Salt Electrochemistry towards Future Energy Systems

Cited by 3 publications

References 21 publications

Plasma‐Induced Molten Salt Electrolysis to Form Functional Fine Particles

Plasma‐Induced Molten Salt Electrolysis to Form Functional Fine Particles

Electrochemical interface between an ionic liquid and a model metallic electrode

Electrochemical Reactions of Uranium Trichloride on a Graphene Surface in LiCl-KCl Molten Salt

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About