Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Condition dependence of Zr electrochemical reactions and morphological evolution of Zr deposits in molten salt

  • Articles
  • Published:
Science China Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This work presents a comprehensive study for the electrochemical behaviors of zirconium in LiCl-KCl eutectic. The effects of stirring, temperature and Zr concentration on the electrode reactions, the ZrCl4 sublimation from the melt, microcosmic morphologies of Zr deposits (ZrCl and Zr) obtained at different potential and temperature have been investigated. The behaviors of Zr(IV), on a large concentration range from 0.13% to 2.28% in melt, show a multiple-step reaction involving Zr(IV), Zr(II), ZrCl and Zr species. Temperature plays a crucial role on the changes of Zr(IV) reduction behavior on the solid electrode. The Zr(IV)/ZrCl couple is more easily observed at lower temperature and gradually diminishes with the increase of temperature. The Zr(IV)/Zr(II) and Zr(II)/Zr reactions are predominant on the W electrode at higher temperatures. At 673 K, a layered structure of insoluble ZrCl formed by potentiostatic electrolyses at 1.1 V was visualized by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDS), while only Zr metal particles was observed at higher temperature than 773 K. An evolution of the Zr-based structure and size corresponding to the ZrCl and Zr metal based on different potentiostatic electrolysis was observed. The average particle size of the Zr metalparticles increases with the increase of temperature.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kinoshita K, Koyama T, Inoue T, Ougier M, Glatz JP. J Phys Chem Solids, 2005, 66: 619–624

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Luo J, Wang C, Lan J, Wu Q, Zhao Y, Chai Z, Nie C, Shi W. Sci China Chem, 2016, 59: 324–331

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Zhang Y, Lan J, Wu Q, Wang C, Bo T, Chai Z, Shi W. Sci China Chem, 2015, 58: 1891–1897

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Murakami T, Sakamura Y, Akiyama N, Kitawaki S, Nakayoshi A, Fukushima M. J Nucl Mater, 2011, 414: 194–199

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ahluwalia RK, Hua TQ, Geyer HK. Nucl Technol, 2001, 133: 103–118

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Koyama T, Iizuka M. Pyrochemical reprocessing of used nuclear fuels. In: 218th ECS Meeting. Las Vegas, 2010

    Google Scholar 

  7. Simpson MF, Law JD. Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing. U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy. Idaho Falls, 2010

    Book  Google Scholar 

  8. Soucek P, Murakami T, Claux B, Meier R, Malmbeck R, Tsukada T. J Nucl Mater, 2015, 459: 114–121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Ghosh S, Vandarkuzhali S, Gogoi N, Venkatesh P, Seenivasan G, Reddy BP, Nagarajan K. Electrochim Acta, 2011, 56: 8204–8218

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Iizuka M, Omori T, Tsukada T. J Nucl Sci Tech, 2010, 47: 244–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Soucek P, Cassayre L, Malmbeck R, Mendes E, Jardin R, Glatz J P. Radiochim Acta, 2008, 96: 315–322

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Iizuka M, Kinoshita K, Koyama T. J Phys Chem Solids, 2005, 66: 427–432

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Fabian CP, Luca V, Le TH, Bond AM, Chamelot P, Massot L, Caravaca C, Hanley TL, Lumpkin GR. J Electrochem Soc, 2013, 160: H81–H86

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Sakamura Y. J Electrochem Soc, 2004, 151: C187

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Lee CH, Kang KH, Jeon MK, Heo CM, Lee YL. J Electrochem Soc, 2012, 159: D463–D468

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Park J, Choi S, Sohn S, Kim KR, Hwang IS. J Electrochem Soc, 2014, 161: H97–H104

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Lee CH, Lee YL, Jeon MK, Choi YT, Kang KH, Park GI, Park KT. ECS Trans, 2014, 64: 609–615

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Baboian R, Hill DL, Bailey RA. J Electrochem Soc, 1965, 112: 1221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Ghosh S, Vandarkuzhali S, Venkatesh P, Seenivasan G, Subramanian T, Prabhakara Reddy B, Nagarajan K. J Electroanal Chem, 2009, 627: 15–27

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Hoover RO, Yoon D, Phongikaroon S. J Nucl Mater, 2016, 476: 179–187

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Cai Y, Liu H, Xu Q, Song Q, Liu H. RSC Adv, 2015, 5: 31648–31655

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Gibilaro M, Massot L, Chamelot P, Cassayre L, Taxil P. Electrochim Acta, 2013, 95: 185–191

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Groult H, Barhoun A, El Ghallali H, Borensztjan S, Lantelme F. J Electrochem Soc, 2008, 155: e19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Basile F, Chassaing E, Lorthioir G. J Appl Electrochem, 1981, 11: 645–651

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Xu L, Xiao Y, Xu Q, van Sandwijk A, Li J, Zhao Z, Song Q, Yang Y. RSC Adv, 2016, 6: 84472–84479

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Goto T, Ishigaki H, Ito Y. Mater Sci Eng-A, 2004, 371: 353–358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Lee CH, Jeon MK, Heo CM, Lee YL, Kang KH, Park GI. J Electrochem Soc, 2012, 159: e171–E176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Tylka MM, Willit JL, Prakash J, Williamson MA. J Electrochem Soc, 2015, 162: H625–H633

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (91426302, 91126006, 91326202) and the “Strategic Priority Research program” of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA030104).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Nuclear Energy Chemistry, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Kui Liu, Ya-Lan Liu, Jing-Wen Pang, Li-Yong Yuan, Lin Wang, Zhi-Fang Chai & Wei-Qun Shi

  2. School of Radiological & Interdisciplinary Sciences, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China

    Zhi-Fang Chai

Authors
  1. Kui Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ya-Lan Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jing-Wen Pang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Li-Yong Yuan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Lin Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Zhi-Fang Chai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Wei-Qun Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wei-Qun Shi.

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, K., Liu, YL., Pang, JW. et al. Condition dependence of Zr electrochemical reactions and morphological evolution of Zr deposits in molten salt. Sci. China Chem. 60, 264–274 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-016-0321-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-016-0321-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation