Review—Fundamental Uranium Electrochemistry and Spectroscopy in Molten Salt Systems

Abstract

Uranium is a key element used for nuclear energy production. Some advanced reactor designs, specifically molten salt reactors, continue to use uranium as the fissile material for energy production. These new technologies require an intimate understanding of uranium chemistry both during and after energy production. This review covers contemporary research on the coordination chemistry and behavior of uranium with the coolant and pyroprocessing salts as proposed for use in future reactor designs. Discussed topics include the nature of U redox reactions involving the reduction of U(III) to U metal and oxidation of U(III) to U(IV). These systems have been interrogated using cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, and optical and X-ray absorption spectroscopies. Insights obtained into the electrode potentials, the uranium species, and their diffusion coefficients in alkali halide melts from decades of research are summarized selectively. Perspectives are provided on the importance of unifying studies for comparison across multiple institutions. The application of synchrotron radiation research and multimodal approaches involving two (or more) probes, such as the widespread combination of UV-Visible spectroscopy and electroanalysis known as spectroelectrochemistry, can provide new knowledge about the main process of uranium electrorefining—diffusion, as will be demonstrated here through the lack of comparable results.