Open AccessStudies on the Electrodeposition of UO2 Production in UO2Cl2-LiCl-KCl Melt
Author(s) -
Yuhe Li,
Huang Wei,
Qingnuan Li
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of the electrochemical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.258
H-Index - 271
eISSN - 1945-7111
pISSN - 0013-4651
DOI - 10.1149/1945-7111/ac62c1
Subject(s) - uranyl , grain size , electrochemistry , overpotential , electrolyte , molten salt , cathodic protection , chemistry , crystal (programming language) , materials science , uranium , inorganic chemistry , analytical chemistry (journal) , metallurgy , electrode , computer science , programming language , chromatography
UO 2 is an important nuclear fuel, also has potentials in the field of functional materials. In this work, the electrochemical behavior of UO 2 2+ in LiCl-KCl molten salt (500 °C) and the effects of reduction potential (−0.1 to −1.0 V) and uranyl concentration (0.5 wt% to 4.0 wt%) on morphology and grain size of electrolytic products were studied. The reduction potential was found playing a decisive role in the morphology of cathodic products. When the potential was ≤−0.4 V (vs Pt(II)/Pt), dendritic and cracked characteristic of the UO 2 crystal appeared. The average current density had a positive correlation with the grain size of cathodic products, and it increased first and then decreased with the increase of overpotential, having a maximum at −0.6 V (vs Pt(II)/Pt). On the other hand, the uranyl concentration also had a positive correlation with the grain size of the cathodic product without changing the integrity of grain morphology. For the preparation of large and granular UO 2 crystal, the reduction potential of −0.2to−0.3 V (vs Pt(II)/Pt), as well as the uranyl concentration of greater than 2.0 wt% were recommended, and UO 2 crystal with average grain size greater than 500 μ m and high uniformity could be finally obtained.